Annual meet with bestie

 Recently, I visited my hometown for an annual meet with my best friend. Every year, my bestie visits me for 10 days at my home. For the past two years, however, I’ve had to travel back to my hometown since I moved to Ahmedabad for my bachelor's degree. I booked my train ticket to Pune two months in advance because, you know, how quick and smooth IRCTC works. On September 7th, my dear bestie was already at my home, but due to college commitments, I couldn’t make it that day. Instead, I booked tickets for the next day, September 8th. My bestie is very understanding and is admired for his wisdom, so I knew he’d understand my delay.

On September 8th, 2024, for the first time in my 20 years of existence, I almost missed my train. My lazy habits will be the end of me, for sure, but thanks to mommy dearest for being my savior, I managed to reach the station in record time. I bet I could’ve beaten The Flash in that moment. Fast forward to my train journey. Like any average middle-class person, I chose a regular sleeper class seat, and thanks to my wonderful luck, I got an upper berth. Sitting next to me was a Telugu aunty, I
blissfully unaware that the train was headed to Coimbatore with only a brief five-minute stop at Pune. The train was packed with people speaking Telugu and Kannada, both languages completely out of my syllabus. I think the only people who knew Hindi, or any other language besides Kannada or Telugu, were me and the TC. Long story short, I somehow survived the 10-hour journey to Pune, starving and brain-fried by my fellow passengers.

I reached Pune in the evening and called my one-call-away friend to pick me up. I cursed myself for packing such a heavy bag, considering I can’t walk two steps without tripping over with that luggage. On the ride home, with my friend driving, my only wish was to reach in one piece. The moment I got home, I freshened up quickly, met my best friend, and had his favorite dish for dinner. As tired and exhausted as I was from the day, I still had all the energy to meet my bestie.

Oh, I totally forgot to mention my best friend. In the stillness before dawn, as the first light kisses the earth, Lord Ganesh emerges—remover of obstacles, bearer of wisdom, and guardian of beginnings. His elephantine form, majestic and serene, cradles the universe’s mysteries within. With a lotus in one hand and a rope in the other, he gently pulls us toward truth, while the sound of his sacred trunk hums through the ages, dissolving darkness. He dances through life’s trials, transforming challenges into blessings, his laughter echoing in the rhythm of creation. He is the gateway to the divine, where knowledge flows like a river and peace blooms eternally. Yes, that’s my best friend—Lord Ganesh, the son of the great Mahadev and goddess Parvati.

The next day, we all woke up and performed the morning pooja for Lord Ganesh. The reason Lord Ganesh is my best friend is that, in his presence, I forget all the troubles life throws at me. His presence brings a sense of security, and his aura fills our home and hearts with positivity. Those 10 days when Lord Ganesh, my bestie, stays with us are filled with absolute peace and prosperity. The light of hope he brings makes life better. During these 10 days, my family and I prayed and worshipped Lord Ganesh, which gave us a true sense of belonging. We decorated our home and Lord Ganesh's aasan with a different theme every year. This year, my family created a set that displayed the Ashtavinayak—the eight holy abodes of Ganesh.

In these 10 days, Lord Ganesh’s presence is my favorite part. The second-best part? Eating modaks, which happen to be both Lord Ganesh’s and my favorite! I had the best time sneaking a few before my mom could notice, hoping she wouldn’t hold me accountable for others not getting enough to eat.

In Pune, Ganeshotsav is celebrated wholeheartedly; it’s the biggest festival of the year, and everyone looks forward to it. My friends and I visited the 5 Manache Ganpati (the five most revered Ganpati mandals in Pune). We also explored all the Ganpati mandals that had the most unique sets and themes for Ganeshotsav this year. We saw beautiful recreations of some of India’s most iconic and historic places. For example, Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust recreated the Jatoli Shiv Mandir, while Chatrapati Rajaram Mandal recreated the magnificent Golden Temple of Amritsar.

Ganeshotsav has always been my and Pune's favorite festival. These 10 days bring the purest joy to all of us, and words will never be enough to describe the experience. But after those 10 days, comes the hardest moment—the 11th day, when we must say goodbye to Lord Ganesh. It’s the time when my bestie leaves me, and I have to wait an entire year for him to return. After bidding farewell to Lord Ganesh, life goes back to normal. We return to our daily routines, but his presence is deeply missed.

On September 19th, I had to return to Ahmedabad, even though many of my friends asked me to stay a little longer. I told them, “My dad isn’t the trustee of the college, so they won’t excuse my attendance just because I want more fun!” Once again, for the second time in my life, I almost missed my train. This time, daddy dearest was my savior, and I managed to get on the train just in time.

In the end, I have only one thing to say: “Oh, my friend Ganesh, tu rehna saath hamesha.”

Best time with bestie.💖