Ganesh Chaturthi 2012 has come to an end and this too was a great year to be a Ganesh devotee. With economy looking up again there are two approaches to celebrating a religious festival that has absolutely no religious grounds for its existence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi#History)

Approach 1: You spend a lot and celebrate for a greater section of 11 days, thus thanking the Lord for his continuous blessings
Approach 2: You spend a little and promise the lord there will be bigger celebrations next year (if he is kind enough to help with Suresh's wedding, Gayatri's alcohol problem, Manya's hobby of serial vasectomy, Harish's habit of eve-teasing men and your long-pending promotion, in short The Remover of Obstacles has to prove his title in such a year)

..as opposed to what one would do in a bad economy

Approach 1: You spend a lot and celebrate for a greater section of 11 days, hoping the Lord would continue being  kind to you
Approach 2: You spend a little and promise the lord there will be bigger celebrations next year (if he is kind enough to help with uplifting your economic standing alongside helping with Suresh's wedding, Gayatri's alcohol problem, Manya's hobby of serial vasectomy, Harish's habit of eve-teasing men and your long pending promotion, in short The Remover of Obstacles has to prove his title in such a year)

Irrespective of these internal conundrums, Ganesh Chaturthi has been a big success and a large thanks goes to the ones who've made it possible - the people - the ones responsible for keeping Lord Ganesh employed, with their endless troubles.

Not everyone, however, gets what they want each year. As a consolation, to appreciate the perennial flow of goodwill directed heavenward, in the form on Modak's, Rangoli, naveen dressis (new dresses) and very impressive clay art, we are giving out awards that recognize just what the Lord Ganesha sees to be impressed by the way this festival is celebrated. Here are the categories:

 

Best Devotional Dance
There has never been a dearth of dances to display devotion. Entire lives are spent in perfecting a dance form to let God know you have taken him seriously. But come Ganesh Chaturthi, there is an almost violent release of dance energy that no one has taken any time to tame, ever.

It is these people who truly express and impress. It is these people who make up the nominations of the best Best Devotional Dance. Make your pick. Lord Ganesha already has.

Best Use of International music by a Mandal
Gone are the days when banging bells and beating dhols would constitute devotion. Today it’s called noise. It's the electronic era - even the prayers have gotten a digital flavor with Lord Ganesha maintaining a profile (or being represented by some fanatical religious/political group that shall remain unnamed for safety purposes) on all leading Social Networks
Lord Ganesha isn't a thing if not up-to-date.
Here are some modern tunes that have everyone going Ganpati Bappa Morya

Pudhchya Warshi Lavkar Yaa - Skrillex

 

Oppan Ganpati Style – Psy



Bless Me Maybe - Carly Re Jepsen



Best Conversion of Black Money to White Money
This category will not showcase any pictures because of the wise words

“God punishes in the afterworld but rich people can send goons as soon as the article gets published”
 
                                                          – Ramesh

Let’s just say that the nominee list is made of people who make the most lavish displays of Lord’s blessings, also known as the biggest contributors to Rs. 226 crore coffers of Lalabaugcha Raja.

Best Collection of Rowdies
A festival that celebrates the Remover Of Ostacles is nowhere without the people who are the personifications, the living forms, the human manifestation, of everything that can be called an obstacle in modern life – Loud Noise, intrusiveness, obnoxiousness; taken to the extreme degree.
It is their pictures that represents Ganesh Chaturthi to many, lagging in importance just below pictures of huge throngs following a huge idol of Lord Ganesha. Thus you see, their visual recall is just below that of a God. Pretty important aren’t they?

Best Reaction from Non-Participants (North Indians)
Last, but not the least; even though the stringent noise restriction (11 PM sharp) during their religious celebration does make them feel so.
This award goes out to all the raised eyebrows, the stern scowls, the mocking sneers and the shameful face-hiding because of street displays of divine devotion.

Best Advertising masked as Invitation
A special category of awards - this is an appreciation of honesty. Sponsors are by far the most open in the entire 9 day celebration. The openness with which they let people know that they are behind every unseemly arch and unwanted invitation is commendable. Also commendable is the fact that everyone named ‘Hardik’, everywhere, has been employed for this noble cause.

‘…hardik swagat karat aahe’

We hope you see how much effort is put into making a local festival an extravaganza, and if you don’t you’re probably the one who got nothing this Ganeshotsav. Better luck with Diwali or Christmas or Navroz or Eid or Pajushan or …..

Write a comment

Down With Stupid
Posts: 9

Long time no update?
Reply #9 on : Sat October 06, 2012, 01:00:27

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Hahaha. My ears have just recovered from the constant onslaught as a result of this year's celebrations. Loved this one. :D
Btw, has the FB fanpage been taken down?

Evelyn Jeanne Shaw
Posts: 9

Judith Ann Mcdermott
Reply #8 on : Thu October 11, 2012, 21:19:55

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Hair Treatment
Posts: 9

Matthew R Giese
Reply #7 on : Sat October 13, 2012, 15:08:32

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I want to change my Blogger/Blogspot background into a picture I want instead of the ugly plain ones that provide you with.. . I tried looking up on google how to change it but it only came up with how to change the background with the old Blogger. . . HELP!.

Vitaly Izmailova
Posts: 9

Irina Vasilieva
Reply #6 on : Mon October 22, 2012, 18:03:54

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Thanks for this post. I don’t know a large number of links to forums but my friends seem to be able to spend a lot of time on them that’s for sure.

Jeremias Tamayo Paz
Posts: 9

Liberal Cabrera Raya
Reply #5 on : Tue October 23, 2012, 13:50:36

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