Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: As a child, I used to do ‘quality check’ of all sweets in my house… esp. modak, says Madhur Bhandarkar

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar is someone who celebrates the festival of Ganesha with utmost fervour and enthusiasm. Like every year, this year too, Madhur is all set to welcome the Elephant God in his house! On the auspicious occasion of Ganeshotsav, DesiMartini caught up with Madhur Bhandarkar to get some more information about his idea of celebrating the grand festival, amongst other things!

To start with, Madhur, how are you planning to celebrate this year’s Ganeshotsav?
Like every year, this year too, we will be celebrating the festival with our entire family. There will be lots of foods, sweets and the traditional aartis.

Can we see you following specific traditional custom/s?
In our house, we do the pooja as per tradition.

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Looking back, what has been the fondest memory of Ganeshotsav?
As a kid, we always used to love to be a part of the festival. A customary visit to all the friends and relatives' houses was a must. As a kid, I remember, I used to open almost every single pedha ka dabba and as one would rightly call it, I used to do the ‘quality check’! (laughs heartily). But, nowadays, since age is catching up, sweets and pedhas have been kept under control. But, it’s a no-rule during the Ganeshotsav celebrations.

Please carry on…
Aarti used to be the best occasion for everyone to come together. These days, one could see a surge in the celebrations. Just a few years back, I could see this as a pure Maharashtrian festival. But these are the times, when everyone is celebrating the festival. It's such a really nice thing to see everyone do that! These memories will always be there… forever. Juhu beach for the visarjan was also one of the earliest memories, which will never fade away anytime.

Since the Ganesh Chaturthi fever has filled the air, tell us which things make this year’s Ganeshotsav very unique?
The Ganpati festival, in itself, has always been unique. There was a time when the material used for making the Ganpati idol was just mud. These days, one has started incorporating thermocol, Plaster Of Paris (POP), shaalu mitti and other materials.

Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Bollywood welcomes Lord Ganesha 

And also, with the advent of social media, there is a huge awareness about the festival. Nowadays, people insist on buying environmentally friendly Ganpati. There is a tremendous amount of change every year. This entire season, I will be celebrating it with full festive mood and fervour and will be wearing traditional clothes.

What are the three dishes that you associate with Ganesh Chaturthi?
Modak, Varn bhaat, pooran poli, aalooo vadi, vattana ka gola.

What is your all-time favourite Ganeshotsav song in Bollywood?
I have been brought up listening to the track ‘Deva O’ Deva’ from Humse Badhkar Kaun. There is another song from the (late) Sunil Dutt starrer Dard Ka Rishta which was titled as, ‘Ganapti Baappa Morya, Agle baras tu jaldi aa’. Till date, these songs give us goosebumps! And, for today’s generation, there cannot be a hit track other than that of the Agneepath one!

What do you want to ask for from Lord Ganesha during this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi?
I would like to pray for a good life for everyone in my country. I feel that, if my countrymen are happy, I will automatically become happy. I want everyone to live in peace. I really want India to be a superpower nation.

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