Tabula Rasa...Clean Slate or Empty Slate: I'll be back... Green Bappa 2012

He came, he saw and he conquered. Every year Bappa better known to all as Ganpati Bappa visits our homes, fills our lives with fun, frolic, joy, oneness and all that which has a positive ring to it.

My special connection dates back to when I was pint size and found told that "Bappa" was our family deity. At that age possessiveness is at it's height.

With time love for Bappa only multiplied, fascination with mythologies and stories was journey into "Neverland". Bappa will always be a "rockstar", the cool dude with a trunk full of funk. A hero, an anthropomorph, he was different. Most importantly the "first on the muster". His anatomy continues to fascinate me and the variety of Idols I see with passing time only adds to me wonderment. Innovative representation of Bappa through the years is unbelievable. Amish Tripathi's rendition of Ganpati in the "Secret of the Nagas" is amongst the best. During a discussion, a friend and I realised how acceptance of Ganpati could be the first classic example of acceptance of a deformed child, and that appealed. More so he goes on to become one of the most sort after gods in the Hindu pantheon, on a lighter note, he is always Roll no. 1 in the register.

Ganesh chaturthi has always been fun, why, I'd say, go figure it out, cause that it is how it is? Each one of us has to find our own personal reason to why do we celebrate it. Why do we connect with Bappa?

As youngster it a double major event, cause we had Bappa in our building too, so kids all ages were a part of it. Right from the setting of the whole decoration to the visarjan. The "Aarti" was something we couldn't miss, after all it was "Our Bappa". You bet all of us featured in the Bappa's most favoured list for those 10 days. It was fun. Then there was the Bappa in flat no 4,which was also a major treat. Then there is always "Ghar ka ganpati".There was so much fanfare associated with Bappa. With time, all the chicks grew up flew out of the nest and built their own nests and welcome Bappa every year with the same fervour.

At home, thatha (tamil for grandfather) would begin his preparation a few weeks before Ganesh Chaturthi and I was his little helper. Armed with a plastic bag and a sharp weapon we would go hunting for mud, which was not hard to find in the place where I live. Then followed the process of making Bappa, our Bappa was always the short, stout, rotund and typical madrasi looking Bappa, kinda cute to look at. He would be adorned with 3 thin horizontal strips of white paper indicating his association with the shaivaite cult and a string across his left shoulder indicating his Brahmanical leanings. To me as a child none of this mattered, neither does it today.

The best part was were his eye, always chana dal, cause they are big and bright. Bappa's eyes speak to you every time you look at him. One just needs to look. Then came a time when I wanted city Bappas (fancy ones, all bright and colourful), so thatha's eco friendly country Bappa had a companion. This continued till thatha was around.i.e. 2002. City Bappa was all alone till 2010 year. Last year, inspired by the eco friendly Ganpati drive, I decided bring back our country Bappa and made my first eco friendly Bappa, you can see him here- Green Bappa 2011. This year it went without saying that we would have a country Bappa and work began much in advance. Here I have to mention that this year our Bappa looks a lot like Bappa as compared to 2011 Bappa and that was possible because of the Green Bappa video, which is a 5 minutes guide to make a eco friendly Bappa. Pretty cool and fills you with loads of confidence. You can find it here, Green Bappa -5 minutes guide to make an eco friendly Bappa.

After a trial Bappa our Bappa for this year was ready. I know I can do better, but for this year it is just fine.

Take a look at our 2012 Bappa.