Your Bodyguard is Waiting for you in the Lobby

Idols on the beach (not us)

Big Ganesh being carried to sea

Ganesh about to be Immersed 

Small Ganesh on back of truck

Cathy does Puga

Nice Ganesh

Celebrating Ganesh with colors

Nandeep, our bodyguard

I have so many movie clips I combined then into just a few clips.

One thing I meant to mention in yesterday’s blog, was while we were eating Dim Sum in at the Taj, a woman breezed in late to join a group of women at a table. She came in like a diva bitch, and I had an instant dislike to her. She sat at the next table, so I never saw her face again. There was something about her that rubbed me wrong. What a diva bitch aura she projected. When we left Cathy said that the woman looked like Kajol, a major Bollywood star – however she was too young to be her. Turns out it was her. So my negativity about her entrance was offset by Cathy thinking she looked younger then her actual age.

We had breakfast this morning in the club room at the Marriot, then we went for a walk. We went to the famous Prithvi Theatre, which is very near the hotel. The theater is Mumbai’s most famous theater. It turns out that there was a question and answer session with Naseeruddin Shah in session when we arrived, unfortunately it was sold out. We have seen many of his movies.

When we returned to the hotel I had a massage and Cathy a facial. She looks radiant!

Everyone at this large hotel that we talked to recommended that we don’t leave the facility today. The streets will be clogged with people; it can get very wild and rowdy. The hotel is situated between the main street of Juhu and the magnificent wide beach. Up to half-million people will be clogging both sides of the hotel, street and beach. The beach access to the hotel was closed off for security reasons.

Kashmera thankfully had arranged for a bodyguard for us.

I never expected to receive a message from a hotel saying “Your bodyguard is waiting for you in the lobby”. We went down and met Nandeep. He looked like a bodyguard. Over 6 feet tall, all muscle, huge arms, tight shirt. We headed out where we were told not to go: the street and the beach. It was amazing being guarded by him. He walked ahead of us, occasionally turning his head to checkup on us. As we walked through crowds he would gently touch anyone in our way, and moved them so we could walk through the crowd without being hassled. He was so subtle that the people being moved never realized it was happening. He was the opposite of pushy, he was totally discreet as he did his job. He was a real professional. If a drunk came by or anyone seemed to be getting to close to Cathy, he said a few words and they backed away leaving us alone. We couldn’t have been out there alone without him. Lots of people on the beach saw us: two white people, obviously not Indians, being escorted by a bodyguard. The Marriot, as I said before, is the home for Bollywood stars. So some people decided we must be American stars and would gawk at us. It was a very unusual experience for us. Although he was an employee, we felt like we were being escorted by a friend.

Nandeep clearing a way for us.

I took lots of movies and pictures but nothing can really do the Ganesh Chaturthi justice. Starting about 4pm millions of Hindus descend on the beaches of Maharashtra (the state that Mumbai is in). They estimate 500,000 people will go to our Juhu beach. Idols of Lord Ganesh are brought to the sea. Some are hand carried, larger ones on the back of trucks. The families and villages that sponsor the Idols sing, chant, pray, ring bells, and generally have a hell of a good time as they carry them down to the Arabian Sea. At any given time if you look around there could be dozens of idols all sizes being carried to their watery immersion. There is a large security presence and plenty of volunteers, yet it is chaos as only India can create. Men and boys carry the idols as far out to sea as they can, before the idol topples over or is set free to float away. As an idol is carried by the sea, people gather and follow it. Once it is immersed or the crowd surges towards other idols being marched to the sea. Many idols are set on the sand and prayer service is held. Cathy was even asked to participate in one service. Everyone is very welcoming.

Day Immersions movie Clip

Cathy doing Puga

After a long walk on the beach we returned to our hotel room, which has a spectacular view of the beach and the activities below. We went for an Indian dinner at the hotel. Cathy stayed behind, but Nandeep and I ventured back to the beach to watch more immersions. At night spotlights sweep the ocean lighting the idols and the waves. It is quite a sight.

Immersions at Night

After we had watched many immersions Nandeep escorted me back to the hotel. I would never have gone outside the hotel without him by my side, I was dubious when Kashmera said we needed a bodyguard, she was correct.