Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated very fondly in India every year, people welcome the idol of Lord Ganesha in their homes and worship him for 10 days with all the good vibes. This year the 10-day-long celebration began on September 7, Saturday. Bollywood celebrates the festival with its touch and one of the celebrities who used to worship the Ganpati idol every year for all 10 days was the Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar.
A few years back, Zoom made sure to speak to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar before the start of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. After that, she warned the writer she wouldn’t be available on the phone for ten days, plus one day of rest after the exhausting ten days.
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Lata Ji's last Ganesh Chaturthi
Lataji’s last Ganesh Chaturthi was a subdued austere and eventually life-taking event.
“Earlier it was an open house at Prabhu Kunj(the Mangeshkar residence on Peddar Road, Mumbai). Since last year, Covid and social distancing have ended the stream of visitors in our home during the Ganesh Chaturthi. Now it’s just us in the family,” sighed Lataji who was in strict quarantine.
Not that she was complaining. “I admit I miss the bustle of guests in our home. But it’s the need of the hour, and we must comply with the guidelines. Or things will get worse, much worse, if we insist on community festivity.”
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Lataji felt the world had changed beyond recognition. “And the sooner we accept it the better. We cannot meet friends and relatives as we used to, even on festive occasions, let alone regularly. Those of us with families living with us are lucky to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with our loved ones. My brother Hridaynath,my Bhabhi, my sister Usha are all with me. I am blessed.”
Lata Ji's advice to her fans and followers
“Count your blessings. Now is the time to be grateful for all that Ganpati Bappa has given us. Every gesture of kindness and compassion counts. It’s time we stop thinking only about ourselves. Whether it is love or wealth, give generously. And please remember: Ganesh Chaturthi is not what it used to be. Please avoid meeting too many people. Stay home and spend time with Ganpati Bappa.”
Soon after she was gone. A pushy media personality whom Lataji jokingly used to call an “I Specialist” for his self-centered conversations, insisted on visiting her. When she feebly protested that she was in quarantine, the media personality pleaded he had to take her blessings.
He showed up with 6-7 others and barged into her tiny bedroom.
She contracted COVID-19 thereafter and never came out of it.