Ganpati festivities at celebs' homes

Ganesotsav drenches everyone in festivities and our celebrities are not ones to be left out of the celebrations. Despite their busy schedules, they make it a point to be there for welcoming Bappa home, even if it means coming from a faraway place of shooting. Here’s how the Puneri celebs are celebrating Ganpati this time.

Sonalee
The light-eyed actress attributes her success in the field to Bappa. “Bappa is known as the God of art so he commands a special position in every artiste’s heart. For me, the deity as well as the festival is more special because of the performances,” informed Sonalee who’s been performing at various cultural programmes during the Ganeshotsave since the age of 12. Sonalee learnt making the décor and rangoli from her ajji and performs the first aarti at her place every year. “We have two idols; one remains at our home throughout the year and the other is brought during Ganeshotsav. We immerse the idol brought a year prior and worship the new one for the next year,” she informed.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Ajay and Atul Gogavale
The musician duo’s family has been celebrating the festival for close to 100 years at the chawl where they used to stay earlier, in Narayan Peth. “Though we have built a new home in Baner, the inclination and attachment towards celebrating Ganpati here is more,” informed Atul Gogavale. There is a devdi in the chawl where they install the Ganpati idol. “For as long as I can recall, we have had a shadu clay murti every year. Initially, we used to install a very small idol but the youngsters in our family felt the idol should be a little bigger. So, the size of the idol that we install has gradually grown over the years,” he added.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Tejaswini Pandit
Though the fitness-conscious actress doesn’t indulge in modaks that much, she comes down to her in-laws’ place during Ganeshotsav. “My family used to celebrate the festival at my native place until two years ago. My husband said that he would start celebrating the festival at his place after we got married and so we celebrate it here now,” said the 'Tu Hi Re' actress. Though her husband is currently abroad, Tejaswini has made sure that he is a part of the celebrations. She informed, “This year, all the preparations were done by the women of the house and since my husband is not here, we are going to have a ‘Skype aarti’ for him.”Ajay and Atul Gogavale The musician duo’s family has been celebrating the festival for close to 100 years at the chawl where they used to stay earlier, in Narayan Peth. “Though we have built a new home in Baner, the inclination and attachment towards celebrating Ganpati here is more,” informed Atul Gogavale. There is a devdi in the chawl where they install the Ganpati idol. “For as long as I can recall, we have had a shadu clay murti every year. Initially, we used to install a very small idol but the youngsters in our family felt the idol should be a little bigger. So, the size of the idol that we install has gradually grown over the years,” he added.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Amey Wagh
By the Amey started with college, the Ganpati at his place was a grand affair. “We had a joint family of around 60 members and the celebrations used to be awesome. Later, everyone bought their houses and started celebrating Ganesotsav individually. So now all the families go to each others’ places and join in the festivities,” informed the 'Dil, Dosti Duniyadari' actor. Amey’s family celebrates an eco-friendly Ganpati and he tries his best to be there during the celebrations. Amey said, “We install a shadu clay idol which is immersed in a bucket at home. Fortunately, I was in Pune during the first three days this time but otherwise too I try my best to come home during the festival.”
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Suyash Tilak
Suyash’s native place is Pen, which is famous for its Ganpati idols. So it hardly comes as a surprise that the 'Ka Re Durava' actor is an ardent Bappa devotee. The Tilak family celebrates a 10-day Ganpati with Suyash’s ajji. “My father is the youngest among his siblings and we celebrate the festival together. The tradition of celebrating the festival is quite old in our family since my paternal grandfather belongs to Pen where the Ganeshotsav is very big. We even have a Ganpati making unit in Hamrapur which is around 5 kms from Pen,” informed Suyash. Suyash’s family installs two Ganpati idols. “We believe in the Titwala Ganpati and have a replica of the same which is immersed once in four years. The other idol is a shadu idol from Pen,” he said.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Mrunmayee Deshpande
For everyone who celebrates the festival, Ganeshotsav is a time to gorge on modaks. But the 'Katyar Kaljat Ghusli' actress is an exception. “I don’t like modaks and everyone in my house forces me to have them during Ganeshotsav. In fact, my cousins have modak eating competitions as well,” she informed. Mrunmayee’s family celebrates a five-day Ganpati in an eco-friendly way. She said, “It is a time when everyone in the family comes together. This time, we weren’t able to decide on the decorations till 1 am on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi but managed to do so later.” During the five days, Mrunmayee doesn’t take up any assignments and enjoys the celebrations to the fullest.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Madhura Deshpande
For the 'Ase He Kanyadan' actress, Ganpati is a time to gorge on modaks. “Since my mom and dada weren’t here this time, I helped my ajji in preparing modaks. Our celebrations are simple and we make use of materials that are available at home, for our decorations. So this time, we used a stand that was already there at home, for support and decorations included flowers and tree-pots from the house,” informed Madhura. The family was going to install a silver Ganpati but decided against it at the last moment. “The enjoyment and fun in bringing Bappa home is something that we didn’t want to miss out upon. So we installed a shadu idol like every year,” added Madhura who has a five-day Ganpati which is immersed along with the Gauri idols.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Bela Shende and Savani Shende-Sathaye
Being an ardent believer in the Elephant God, Bela makes sure she joins the preparations and Ganpati celebration at elder sister Savani’s home in Pune. Bela said, “We have a one and a half day celebration at Savani’s place and even if I am in Mumbai, I try to come a day prior to Ganesh Chaturthi in order to help with the preparations.” The celebrations at Savani’s place are eco-friendly and Bela swears by the city’s enthusiasm during the festival. “The spirit of Ganpati is to be enjoyed in Pune. The atmosphere in the city turns divine as soon as the festival nears,” she said.
(Pic: Shashank Sane)

Kirti Nagpure
Kirti, who is known for her roles in Hindi TV shows like Parichay and Desh Ki Beti Nandini, celebrates the 10-day festival with her family in Pune. The décor for her pandal is made at home and apart from celebrating at home, Kirti has another obsession. Kirti is another person who loves the city’s enthusiasm and excitement when it comes to celebrating the Ganpati festival. She informed, “For a long time now, I have been visiting the major Ganpati pandals of the city during Ganeshotsav. Just a few days ago I took the blessings of all the five Manache Ganpati.”
(Pic: Shashank Sane)