A simple tradition that was started by Babli Uday Parab in 1958 in the village of
Mhalaivaddi in Talawade has become a huge festival today. The idol of Lord
Ganesh is worshipped in the Parab household for 17 days every year and people
from all over Goa and Maharashtra make it a point to visit this idol. This
tradition is now being carried out by the grandson of Babli, businessman Baban
“Bandiya” Parab. With over 5,000 people visiting his house in Mhalaivaddi, it
is a custom to offer them food after they pray to the lord.
“My grandfather used to keep the idol for
these many days and we continued with the tradition. Our family was not
well-to-do. My grandfather didn’t have any money but his faith was strong and
heart was big. There were no proper houses then. We lived in a hut that was set
up for Ganpati. Now, we are a family of nearly 50 people living under one roof.
The entire family is involved in celebrating the festival and cooking and
cleaning on all the days of Ganesh Chaturthi,” says Baban.
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On the day of Anant Chaturthi, nearly 2500
people visited the home. People from Margao, Vasco, Panjim, Pernem visit the
idol every year. “My grandfather was a very simple man. He didn’t return anyone
home empty handed. He would at least serve them ‘tilgul’ to sweeten their mouth.
We have been doing this since we didn’t have anything and now since we are
blessed, we have continued with the tradition. People who come to visit Lord
Ganesh during these 17 days might have everything but our pride is that even
when we didn’t have anything, we were still serving people with what we had.
Our condition was so bad that someone would give us food and we would offer
that food to Ganesh and then eat and serve others. Whether a friend,
acquaintance or even ministers, whoever comes to our home, are given the same
treatment. They will be served food in the same manner. There is no bias or
difference in serving people. Friends and neighbours also help us in preparing
the food.
The family has rebuilt a pond into a swimming pool for the
visarjan of Lord Ganesh. The pond was created by the grandfather as the earlier
place for visarjan was a natural pond that was almost one kilometre away and
they had to make the journey by foot. The road was rough so he decided to
create a pond next to the well of the house. He didn’t want a deep well as he
didn’t know how the idol would go into the water. He wanted the right depth so
that the idol would rest properly in the water.
“My grandfather built the pond with his own hands and now we
built a wall around it like a swimming pool. The only purpose of this structure
is for the visarjan. We live a comfortable life so god deserves better. We
didn’t want to do the visarjan in muck or marshy area and that is why we built
the swimming pool. We also didn’t want to contaminate the drinking water with
the colours, flowers and other accessories of the idol. After the days of
festivities, it is time for rest for Him and we wanted Ganpati to stay close to
us,” says Baban, who has also made a special gold necklace for Lord Ganesh
worth 5-7 lakhs.
He adds, “It is the good deeds of our forefathers that are
benefiting us today and we feel great joy in serving others, especially those
who visit us during Ganesh Chaturthi. There is no happiness in saving money if
we don’t do something for god. Now, so many people are visiting us so that they
can worship god through us. I don’t take donations. It is happiness to serve
others; that is what gives me satisfaction.”
His
message to others is that all should value the importance of family and home.
“People who travel abroad for jobs should work in India itself as they will be
closer to their families. Parents should guide the children to be satisfied
with what they have. They should work and serve others with smiling faces. I
only hope my family continues with this tradition,” concludes Baban.
