with Sri Ganesh

bunches of new peacock feathers and the laddus – and we begin the preparations and, after 5 pm, Bitti comes in with her son carrying the milk and curd and more fresh coconuts. Bitti and I give Sri Ganesh his ritual bath, then, with Anand and Parthy handing over the water pots and the milk, curd, ghee, honey, lemon, shikkai and rose water and I sing the mantras and slokas… Then Arunasalam brings baskets of fresh ears of corn and bundles of cambu and raggi; he has come with his wife and they also offer Rs. 500/- Through him Ramraj has sent his offering of Rs. 1,000/-

In Pondy, earlier, I ordered the taxi to fetch Suresh De and his wife tomorrow morning, and spent Rs. 500/-

- 11-09-10: Sri Ganesh Chaturthy .

… It rained long in the night and everything is soaked but this morning the weather is quiet, cool, restful… … What to say? As every year I am too tight, too prone to irritation, too worried that I may not do well enough – not being able to call in beauty and superior harmony and a measure of delight… But this year I also feel a little awed and nonplussed at the same time, that we have made it, seemingly against so many odds, we have crossed the angry waters to the shore and Sri Ganesh not only has kept his abode in Auroville but has perhaps strengthened it. Parthy tells me this is always so with Lord Ganesha, there is nothing to worry about, he will always find the needed instruments and proceed on his own way – and use troubles in between as is his wont… Alright; I have indeed been mostly weak and doubting and easily swayed… However, here we are…! Not many people come, perhaps a hundred or so altogether. Suresh De has come to sing with his wife and sister, and offers his harp to Sri Ganesh, and appears to be genuinely moved… Kamala, Uma and Bitti do the Aarti… … Madhu comes again and, towards the end, becomes even more obnoxious, insisting for instance to give Two Rupees notes to everyone (no one uses these notes any longer and it is a sort of insult, at least here in Tamil Nad) and forcing them in the children’ hands; he also

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