This idol is made of paper mache and clay. Yet, we do not immerse it. The same idol is being worshipped for past three years. Traditions and customs CAN be appropriately changed without any changes in the devotion, love and respect for the Almighty. A small step, when taken by many, will have a huge positive impact on our environment that we all believe has been created by Him.
This festival (and many others) bring us together with our near and dear ones. Isn't this one of the main reasons why we celebrate festivals? God is never demanding or His powers are not 'directly proportionate' to the size of His idols. The most important aspect is the sincerity and the simplicity with which He is worshiped. What will He do of all the gold, diamonds, cash that he is showered with? Don't we believe that He only gives, and never takes (except His favourite modaks!).
I also doubt whether He approves of the blaring music being played around Him, his devotees doing item numbers during processions, rich people being given special treatment and a waiver from standing in serpentine queues, mandals collecting lakhs of rupees as donation in His name, pandals being erected in the middle of the roads without any sensitivity towards emergency services, drunk 'devotees' doing a tamasha (popularly known as 'dance') in front of Him while bidding adieu, and many other interesting aspects that have cropped in this festival in the last two decades. I had asked Him quietly few years ago - when my fellow Indians had tried to feed Him tonnes of litres of milk because He was drinking it seems - what is all this fuss about? He seemed upset then, for He couldn't understand why all his devotees had thrown all this milk down the drain in frenzy, when it could have fed thousands of orphans and old age home members.
I bet He still doesn't know!
Ganapati Bappa Moraya!!!
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