Naman Shaw: The experience of welcoming Bappa home is truly surreal

Naman Shaw moved to Mumbai 20 years ago and was immediately captivated by the way Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated in the city of dreams.. From visiting his friends’ homes during the festival, all he truly wished for was to one day bring Bappa to his own home.

That dream finally came true in 2017 when he bought his own house.

Naman recalls, “Ganesh Chaturthi is my favourite festival! Ever since I moved to Mumbai in 2005, I’ve been enchanted by this celebration. All I longed for was to be able to bring Bappa home, and I finally did when I bought my own house in 2017. The experience of welcoming Him and caring for Him over one-and-a-half days is truly surreal. We’ve been hosting Him every year since.

We prioritise eco-friendly Ganpati idols that dissolve easily in water, minimising harm to the ecosystem.

Despite our busy schedules, we always take time off for the festival and even visit friends who host Ganpati at their homes.” He shares how the tradition has become a family affair. He says, “My four-year-old son Krivaan loves the festival, too. He even helps my wife prepare modaks with his little hands for his Gannu! Ukadiche modaks are my personal favourite.”

Given his attachment, it’s no surprise that Krivaan gets emotional during visarjan. Naman adds, “The farewell ceremony is always emotional, with my son tearing up because he doesn’t want to let Ganpati Bappa go.” However, this year brought a change. The Mangal Lakshmi actor couldn’t bring Bappa home due to his father’s health concerns. He explains, “This year, my father’s health issues prevented me from bringing Ganpati Bappa home, which was a huge letdown. My parents usually travel from Kolkata to join the celebrations, and my friends look forward to lunch at our place, where my mom prepares special dishes. I truly missed hosting Bappa this time, but I did visit friends’ and co-actors’ homes to seek His blessings and stay connected to the festive spirit.

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