I remember whilst growing up in inner city Birmingham where, whenever I identified my Hindu faith, an almost clockwork retort from a “non-believer” would associate me as a worshipper of the ‘Elephant God’ Ganesh. Such as the power of Ganesh’s branding!
Whether the retorts were out of ignorance, curiosity, or even hostility at an alien belief system – for me the automatic recognition and association of my identity with that of Ganpati bapa was and is a matter of pride and self-assurance.
To the believers, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and all the joy and emotion the chant “Ganapati Bapa Moriya” evokes in us. And to uninitiated – as with all faith – if we devote our curiosity to the moral of the story, we will be able to share the joys of Hindu festivals and symbolism with the ease that they have for millennia been meant.
For ultimately in the Hindu faith we can witness more that unites us as humans than could ever divide.
Here is a chart that reminds us, explains to our children and non-Hindus what Ganesh symbolises. Any objections?
