REMOVER OF OBSTACLES
Cindy Maddera
Ganesh Chaturthi, the Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of Ganesh to this earth, began on the twenty second. It is a ten day festival, so there is one week left for celebrations and eating sweet dumplings called modaka. This is the week that processions start with dancing in the streets as Ganesh idols are carried to the closest body of water for immersion. One of our microscope reps was in on Friday to pack up a broken laser bank. As she stood six feet behind me so I could log onto the system, she noticed my Ganesh tattoo peeking out the top of my t-shirt. “Oh! I always forget that you have a Ganesh on your back! You know the festival is this week?” She said. Then she went on reminiscing about last year’s celebrations and the special saree she wore. You could see the disappointment in her eyes that she would not be celebrating in the same way this year.
I still get a little nervous when one of my Indian co-workers notices my Ganesh tattoo. It is so rarely in full view. It is only on occasion that I am wearing a blouse that slips low enough down my back so that the very top of Ganesh’s head is visible. I’m afraid my tattoo will be seen a cultural misappropriation, which it is. I am not Hindu, yet I carry a Hindu God on my back. I have multiple Ganesh statues. I admit that at first, the attraction was due to my whole elephant fetish. That only led me to wanting to know more about Ganesh. This in turn, educated me on a whole other culture, one filled with spice and color. A culture of people who can express so much joy in the face of so much strife. My tattoo has always been met with surprise and approval. I’ve been told I have made a good choice.
If ever there was a year for celebrating Ganesh, this would be the one. Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is the remover of all obstacles, the Lord of letters and learning, but he’s also been known to place obstacles in the paths of those who need to be checked. Which makes me think that he might be behind some of the obstacles of this year. Ganesh felt we all needed to slow our rolls. Maybe he’s hoping that we’ll all come out of all of the experiences of this year a little kinder, more compassionate, more patient. Maybe the obstacles of this year will make us more appreciative and grateful.
Maybe some of us will learn to find joy even in the face of strife.