For over a century, Varanasi's Marathi wadas have been cradles of nationalism

VARANASI: Amid the grandeur of pandals and embellished idols of Lord Ganesha, there are many people in the city who stand apart for holding traditional 'puja' for more than a century.
In fact, the 'puja' at one such place was started by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who is credited to have popularised the festival by giving it a nationalistic fervour.
Many houses in the labyrinthine lanes of Chowk area not only preserve the faith but are age-old cradles of nationalist feelings and unique traditions.
Every year, after the formal incarnation of the deity, two 'wadas' (complexes inhabited by families) of Chowk area - Fadnavis Wada and Andhre Wada - practice the tradition of 'padya gaan' (poetry recital) in praise of the Lord.
Penned in Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi by the founders of the puja, these poems exhibit nationalist sentiments. A good number of these poems are paeans dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
A Hindi 'padya' written by Vinayak Boa Bhagwat, who started the 'puja' at Fadnavis Wada, reads: 'Utho ab Hinduon jago, nahi hai waqt sone ka… Dikha do veerta apni, yahi hai mauka ladne ka' (Wake up Hindus, this is not the time to sleep... gather yourself and get ready to fight).
"This poem exhorts Indians to shun their laziness and fight for the nation," said professor Madhav Janardan Ratate, head of Dharmashastra department, faculty of Sanskrit, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), who is associated with Fadnavis Wada.
Citing a Marathi verse (Priyakar Hindusthan amucha, priyakar Hindusthaan amucha, sarva sukhachi khan amucha… he janma bhoomi gye janmabhoomi tan man dhan he tula…), Sunil Chitley, a member of Andhre Wada, said: "The poet expresses deep love for the nation and calls its landscape a jewel and source of all happiness. He pledges his heart, life and money to the nation. The crux is that India is the source of all happiness and we must stand for the nation in all possible ways. The message is relevant even today, so we sing it each year."
The tradition of 'padya gaan' is passed on from one generation to another. "Children associated with the 'wadas', who are good at singing, form a choir and practice typical singing from Naag Panchami which falls almost a month before the 'puja'," he said.
The touch of Tilak: The prayers offered to Lord Ganesha at both the 'wadas' have a connection with freedom-fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak. At Andhre Wada, prayers were started by Tilak himself while those at Fadnavis Wada were started by group of friends, led by Vinayak Boa Bhagwat, who were inspired by Tilak. According to priests at Marathi samaj (community) temples, the tradition of Ganesh puja is as old as the Puranas. The rituals and ceremonies of Ganesh Chaturthi find mention in Hindu scriptures Skand and Ganesh Puranas and the Srimad Bhagwad Gita.
Talking about Tilak's contribution, professor Ratate, who is associated with Fadnavis Wada, said: "He is the one who turned Ganesh puja into a community affair. Prior to this, Ganesh puja was performed at family level, like that in case of Diwali." Praveen Patwardhan, a Marathi, said Tilak increased the duration of the puja. "Scriptures describe Ganesh Chaturthi as a single day affair followed by 'visarjan'. But Tilak urged communities to celebrate the occasion for odd days ranging from 3-11 days," he said.
Ganesha and restyled Goan Goff dance: A different version of the Goan Goff dance can be seen at the two 'wadas' during Ganesh puja. Cluster of ropes is tied to a rod and then suspended in the air. Dancers hold one rope each and dance in the circle creating different patterns. The only difference between the Goan and Banarasi versions is that while dancers in Goa use colourful handkerchiefs, in Varanasi they hold 'dandiya' sticks. Committees at the two 'wadas' claimed that the tradition was unique to them.