Ganeshotsav reaches new heights in Edison

The whole atmosphere is festive. People dressed in beautiful traditional clothes throng the ground. A queue of people stretches in a never-ending line. They are all waiting for 'darshan' (to see) of the idol of Lord Ganesh. The 14-foot idol of this well-beloved deity stands in splendor, towering over the devotees.
There's also an enormous 'modak', an offering of a favorite food of the lord in this elephant-headed form.People are enthusiastically calling out chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" from time to time.
As I stand looking at this scene, my mind feels a sense of deja vu. Of course, I had seen all of this before. This is how Ganeshotsav is celebrated in Mumbai, where I was born and brought up. But my mind begins to feel a little confused as I begin to notice certain things. The 'arati thali' contains monetary offerings, but they are not in rupees but in dollars. The police car standing for the security of the event is not the usual 'Mumbai Police'. It's a blue and white police car with lettering on it which says 'Edison Police'.
Yes, I am standing in Edison, New Jersey, USA on the famous Oak Tree Road, which is often colloquially referred to as the 'Indian Street'. It is a street famous for its many Indian restaurants and Indian stores. Now, it has another claim to fame. A 14-foot idol of Lord Ganesh graced the street with his presence.
In this Ganeshotsav, the Indian-origin community in Edison, which always celebrates Indian festivals, has taken celebrations to new heights, quite literally. It was a pleasure to see the festival being celebrated with grandeur, yet without show-off, and most importantly in a way which is harmoniously compatible with the rest of the society and the environment.
Ganpati Bappa Morya