“Ganesh Chaturthi has been very close to my heart as I am from Mumbai. People here celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as their own festival irrespective of their religion. It is definitely no less than Diwali. In fact, I feel it is bigger than Diwali,” she says.
Talking about a childhood tradition that remains special to her. “Since childhood, I have been watching my family bring the idol of Ganpati at home. We celebrate the festival wholeheartedly and with full energy,” she says. For her, the celebrations are as much about togetherness as they are about devotion, with family, relatives and neighbours coming together to seek Bappa’s blessings and share prashaad.
However, this year comes with a bittersweet feeling for the actress. Ashmita is currently in Thailand for a dance competition and, for the first time in her life, will not be able to participate in the celebrations at home. “This is the first time in my life that I am not a part of it,” she adds.
For Ashmita, the essence of Ganpati lies in faith. Speaking about Lord Ganesha as Vighnaharta, she says, “When I truly believe in God, I don’t get into calculations.” She explains that instead of questioning how or when things will happen, she prefers to surrender her worries to God. “We can only pray to God and leave everything in his hands,” she says.
While acknowledging that the festival has become increasingly commercialised, Ashmita believes faith remains its strongest foundation. “Our belief makes it authentic or fake. For me, this belief matters rather than Ganpati festival getting commercialised,” she says.
At home, the Bakshi family brings Bappa for one-and-a-half days. And when it comes to the festive indulgence, Ashmita has a clear favourite: sweets. “Ganpati festival is like a no-guilt festival. ~We eat sweets and completely put it up to the festival,” she says with a laugh.
As for her wish this year, Ashmita keeps it simple—her family’s health and welfare. “I don’t ask for anything specific,” she says, adding that she trusts Bappa to bless her with more than she could ever imagine. “When he comes to giving you, he gives more than you have thought or wished for.”
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