Ganpati Bappa Morya: Awakening the Koshas, Awakening Ourselves

When Ganpati Bappa comes into our lives, He does not merely stay as a guest — He awakens every layer of our being. At Ganga Melrose, our celebrations unfolded not just as rituals, but as a living journey through the five Koshas — the subtle sheaths of existence that house the soul. Each day revealed a new dimension, inviting us to discover Ganpati within ourselves.

On the first day, children ran with laughter and curiosity through a treasure hunt. What appeared as play was, in truth, an activation of the Annamaya and Pranamaya Kosha — the body and the life force. With every clue solved and every step taken, their bodies were nourished with joy, and their prana pulsed with vitality.

The second day carried a different rhythm. Colonel Kamlesh Chauhan shared about the Sindoor Operation — a story of courage, discipline, and sacrifice.

Here, we bowed in gratitude to the guardians of our nation. This was not only a tribute to the Army, but also a reminder of the strength and resilience within us. Ganpati, as the remover of obstacles, teaches us that true strength is born of duty, devotion, and love for something larger than oneself.

The third day became a canvas. Children dipped into their inner world through colors, shapes, and free expression in the Art Workshop. This was the blossoming of the Manomaya Kosha, the sheath of thoughts, emotions, and imagination. As they expressed freely, barriers dissolved, and the heart’s creativity opened itself without hesitation.

On the fourth day, we transcended the mind into pure joy. A Kirtan and Bhajan evening under the gentle glow of candlelight immersed everyone in sound vibrations of Ganeshji. As voices rose together, boundaries fell away. This was the awakening of the Anandamaya Kosha — the sheath of bliss. In the rhythm of mridangas, the echo of cymbals, and the sway of bodies, we touched the joy that is beyond words — the joy of union.

Finally came the Visarjan. But this farewell was not an end. It was a reminder that divinity never leaves us — remains in our inner being if we are in allowance.

Each offering of flowers, each shared plate of prasadam, and even the color-coordinated clothes resonating with planetary alignments reflected the harmony of the cosmos mirrored in our small community.

What emerged was not just festivity, but togetherness, oneness, and sacred energy that lingered long after Bappa’s immersion.

In those five days, Ganga Melrose was not just a housing society. It became a living mandala — a circle of joy, devotion, art, discipline, and bliss. Ganpati had not merely visited us; He had unfolded us, layer by layer, until we touched the still center of our being.

Ganpati Bappa Morya! Not as a call of farewell, but as an eternal echo — reminding us that He is always here, in every sheath, in every heart, in every vibration of life.

For me, organizing these celebrations is not just about arranging events or rituals. It is my own sadhana, my path of inner growth. Each time I take the trouble, step into the details, and serve in this way, there is learning, transformation and a sense beyond the self. When I grow, that growth naturally extends to those around me — this is lok sangraha, the collective upliftment.

Ganpati thus becomes not only the deity we worship together, but also the teacher who shows us that personal evolution and community well-being are inseparable. In nurturing the spirit of others, my own spirit expands. In expanding myself, I find the joy of seeing others uplifted.