with Sri Ganesh

Of the Gift You bring, Sri Ganesh, To the battlefield...

Aum

- 17-09-12:

... It is sunny and hot. Parthy and I clean everything and empty the shrine of all tools and wash and scrub all the surfaces; people can only do their pranams at the door... Praveen offers Rs. 100/- ... In the afternoon we continue with the preparations; Parthy has also called Sundarasu and his singing friends to do a little rehearsal... ... Spend another Rs. 400/- for new bulbs, and to collect nuts and grasses...

- 18-09-12:

... As every year I tend to be short-tempered, upset with my own “mistakes”, impatient, and generally uptight, during all the preparations... We spend Rs. 500/- for extra oil, for food and miscellaneous and Rs. 300/- for transport (Nanditadi); and another Rs. 2,000/- for flowers...

- 19-09-12: Sri Ganesh Chaturthy.

... I am even more tense this year because no one has come to help us: Parthy and I have to attend to everything – except for a little help from Ruchir with the flowers and from Dinesh with the final setting; in

the afternoon, though, Parasu joins us. Altogether about 200 people come...

- 20-09-12:

... Nothing works out as one hopes, I suppose...! So it is wiser not to hope for anything in particular! Not a very bright discovery but, on the other hand, I do not subscribe to the injunction to surrender wholly and unreservedly: for there is indeed a battle on this earth and true

1063