Because of his strong faith in Bappa, actor Arjun Bijlani only signs his movie deals on Tuesdays, according to him. He holds Bappa in such high regard that he insists on dealing with urgent matters only on this day. Similarly, it’s not unexpected that he throws Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations with great enthusiasm. “This year marks my 22nd celebration of Ganesh Chathurthi”, the actor shares, mentioning, “My dad would always take Ganpati home and after he was gone, I’ve kept this tradition going.”
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In the past, when Bijlani resided in Mahim, Mumbai, alongside his parents, the young man would visit Siddhivinayak, Dadar, on Tuesdays. “Even after moving to Andheri, which was quite distant from Dadar, I continued with the tradition. I believed in Siddhi Vinayak. Then, after my father’s passing, I turned to Bappa for guidance. I felt a deep bond with him, and that connection has only deepened over the years,” he shares.
Bijlani remembers having a great time celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at her nani’s house when he was a child, an experience that formed a strong connection between him and his father, Bappa: “My Nani resided in Dadar, and on the tenth day of Ganesh Chaturthi, all the Ganpatis from large stalls would march down the road adjacent to her home. My cousins and I got to fully immerse ourselves in the festive spirit, bursting crackers, playing whistles, dancing, and enjoying ourselves immensely. Namaskar kartes were placed at every statue that passed, and we would receive prasad. Those times were unforgettable.”
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Arjun discloses his active involvement in preparing for Ganpati, covering everything from the decorations to the food. “I have a passion for Ukadiche modak, along with other dishes and blessings. After many years, we’ve mastered all the aspects except for the decorations, which I tackle annually. I aim for a natural look and favor using flowers. This time, he’ll be staying with us for three days, a bit longer than his previous visits which were just one and a half days,” he explains.
The actor usually engages in shooting activities during the festive season and follows it up with some rest days. However, this year, he has secured additional days off and intends to explore Lalbaugcha Raja.
His nine-year-old son, Ayaan, also takes pleasure in the celebrations. Arjun refers to him as “modak chor” due to his fondness for eating modaks during these occasions. “In his childhood, Ayaan would weep during the visarjan as he wished Bappa stayed behind.”