With the advent of Raja’s(Lalbaug cha Raja, Fort cha Raja, etc) of every shape and size, the city of Mumbai is in a festive mood. I don’t think even Lokmanya Tilak would have envisaged the scale and pomp of Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals when he had started the concept of Ganesh Festival.
Every creation has its good and bad sides much like a knife being used to cut fruits or to inflict violence on others, so it is with Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals pursuing “Mine better/bigger than yours”. Some do good for the society in terms of charity and provide employment for many artisans for the festival period whilst many simply fill their pockets with the money that devotees donate in hope of being blessed with better things in their own lives…And life goes on…
Just to remind ourselves, lest we get lost in the din of the Mandals, of what is the essence of the Ganesh festival…
To create the Ganesh Idol from the elements, celebrate its presence amongst us and to dissolve it to its elements when it is time…reminding us of our own mortality that whatever has been born will surely die and that we can take nothing with us – so celebrate your limited presence joyfully and share the same with others around you…
There is Ganesha(Divinity) in all of us but that is covered by layers of ego(I/Me/Mine), this festival reminds us to consciously dissolve such layers during our lifetime and allow the divinity within to shine forth….
Explorer, Philanthropist, Mentor:
Exploring and researching on practices of Self Realisation
Philanthropist: engaged in projects with social and environmental impact
Mentor: guiding people crystallise and achieve their material and spiritual goals
Background:
Former CEO of Mahindra Integrated Business Solutions- an Advisory and Business Process Management Arm of the Diversified US$ 17 Billion Mahindra Group. Ajit was responsible for transforming a Shared Services Centre of the Mahindra Group into a full-fledged Advisory and Business Process Management Company with products/services spanning Strategy & Enterprise Risk Management Advisory to Digitization and Transactional Outsourcing.
He has over 23 years of experience in the industry as an Entrepreneur. He has built businesses in Music Publishing, Media (Compact Discs/DVD’s) Manufacturing, Logistics and Financial Services and is currently nurturing his own initiative called FREE (Forests, Renewable Energy and Environment) & associated with NPO Trusts/ Organizations and mentoring select people and a few start-ups in his personal capacity.
A Chartered Accountant by Qualification with extensive continuing education in Executive Management Programs @ Harvard Business School, Michigan- Ross Business School, IIM-A
He has pursued spiritual interests since an early age exploring inner facets of self through Vipassana, Isha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, other yogic approaches / meditation techniques An Avid Marathoner, trekker/mountaineer, scuba diver, writer and motorbike traveller, is passionate about exploring the outer world as much as the inner.
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Bodhisattva 