Sharad Kelkar is by and large additional mindful of Ganpati festivities at home this year attributable to the pandemic. Consistently, the entertainer has a few visitors coming over for Bappa’s darshan, however this year the list, if people to attend, has been trimmed down. Discussing it, he says, “The festival isn’t pretty much as extravagant as it used to be. Just family members and dear companions who have been completely inoculated are welcomed for Bappa’s darshan.”
Since youth, the entertainer and his family have been bringing Ganpati home during Ganesh Chaturthi. “Whenever we start something new, we take Bappa’s name. This festival is an auspicious occasion to begin something new or introduce a change in your life,” says the ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ entertainer, who gets nostalgic as he absorbs the happy soul.
He shares, “It takes me back to my childhood days. I hail from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and during these 10 days, my friends and I used to visit multiple pandals. As a kid, the festival meant binging on modaks and namkeen. But as I grew up, I understood its importance and started performing the aarti on my own. Gradually, I took the responsibility on my shoulders. Today, I enjoy this festive time when we also get to meet our near and dear ones. It brings me so much happiness.”
Very much like him, even his significant other Keerti and his mom engage in assembling this five-day issue at home. He says, “Keerti personally goes to the Dadar flower market every year at 4 am to source fresh flowers for the decorations, which she personally designs. She is so good with the design that even our friends call her for tips. In terms of festive food, both my mom and Keerti whip up tasty delicacies. My mom makes finger-licking traditional Maharashtrian sweets like modak, karanji, and anarse. My friends enjoy coming over to have chole puri and aalu matar sabzi with puri. My mother is an excellent cook.”
