Ganesh Chaturthi and Process of Wealth Creation

How Ganesh Chaturthi is different?

I was contemplating on why we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in such a weird way different from that any other festival. In general, the process of consecration of an Idol is extremely elaborate, has to follow numerous guidelines and can be conducted only by a few trained people. It also involves the use of resources of several kinds. But in Ganesh Chaturthi we bring in a Murti/Idol made of clay into our home every year, only to dump it in the sea or any other waterbody 10 days later.

On the surface this difference did not make much sense. But as in many things in sanatana dharma I realized how deeply thought through this festival was. While this festival addressed the economic concerns of potters whose trade temporarily ceases due to seasonal rains, Ganesh Chaturthi has a deep meaning for every family that celebrates it.

Creation of Ganesha and Wealth

Ganesha in the chaturthi festival is always made of clay. The clay that is otherwise freely available in the river banks and may collected by anyone without any licence or payment. With this clay, a beautiful murti/ idol is made. Ganesha is created from this through human efforts and dedication.

Wealth may similarly be created from freely available resources through efforts and dedication. There is a beautiful Jataka Tale of how a man became a big merchant starting from nothing but over heard advice and a dead mouse. While this has been true all along, it has never been more easier and common place than ever before. Billion Dollar companies that have started out from basement and a computer.

Manifestation of Wealth:

Ganesha is a very personal god. Almost all children are told to pray to pilliyar ummachi (an endearing way to address God used with children). In Chaturthi too Ganesha happily takes any form you want him to – from a military Ganesha, software engineer Ganesha, Ganesha playing classical hindustani to saxophone, nothing is quite out of bounds for him. Ganesha also happily uses instagram, whatsapp and is happy to adapt to current trends and technology.

Wealth too can take any form you want it. Gold ornaments, SUV, land, shares, PMS, Mutual funds, charities , business are all just various manifestations of your wealth. Wealth can take any form you want it to and can move from one form to another.

Celebration of Wealth:

Once Ganesha is installed Pooja is done every day, People are invited and Prasad is given. Every day is a celebration of the deity. People invite and visit each others house to take part in the celebration of the manifestation of God as well as take part in the blessings. They also contribute to the bigger mandals in the society, village, area etc.

It is not uncommon to see certain people believe wealth is accumulated only by depriving others. Unfortunately this thought was propagated a lot by movies of an era. However, Ganesh Chaturthi shows wealth too is a blessing that may be manifested through hard word, needs to be celebrated when possessed and shared among the community. When we can create God through our hands, what in the world can we not create.

Letting it all go:

At the end of 3/5/7/11 days, Ganesha is immersed in a waterbody. Ganesha who came from the clay of the river banks, goes back to where he came from and he is sent off by each family with much fan fare and celebration. The families let go of their dear Ganesha who has become a part of their family, and brought in much grace and celebration, so that he can go back to where he came from.

As humans, we all back to where we came from. But even in the context of wealth, as in the four stages of life of a man – Brahmacharya, Grihasta, Vanaprasta and Sanyasi, man is to willingly give up the wealth earned through his work during his lifetime inorder to pursue higher realms of life. He does this willing and happily. He celebrates letting go of wealth, the way he celebrated manifesting and possessing it. He lets go not because he had to, as it leave it to his children after himself, but because it is time.

May this Chaturthi Ganesha bless us all with his immense knowledge to manifest, protect, grow and let go when it is time. Ganapati Bappa Morya, Managala Muti Morya.