When A 'Pancha' Made All The Difference!

This year's Ganesh Chaturthi has been an unforgettable experience.

Late arrival of Pujari, lots of delicious Prasad offerings, beautiful Bappa, community spirit - the festival was a beautiful melange of moments of frustration, happiness and relief. 

But it all came down to a 'Pancha' at the end. This piece of clothing created doubts, made me question my faith and ultimately solved all my doubts too. 

Pancha is what people refer to Dhoti / Veshti in Telugu. Every couple performing the Pooja for Ganesha usually presents a Pancha as an offering to Him. 

When it was our turn, my husband and I decided to buy a red colored Pancha, something to match the beautiful vermillion mark on Ganesha's forehead. We eagerly waited for the Pujari to drape the Pancha on the idol. Except, he said the color looked dull and he put it on Ganesha's shoulders as a shawl. We tried to convince him that the color matched Ganesha's forehead but the Pujari felt otherwise and didn't drape the Pancha. 

The Pooja went well but I was left with doubts. Something felt incomplete. It felt as if Ganesha had not accepted our offering. And as it is with human nature, the self-doubts began.

Was I too vocal about the Pujari coming late? 

Did my frustration and impatience offend Ganesha? 

Did I not buy the Pancha whole-heartedly?

Where did I go wrong?

Three other couples performed pooja after us. And my husband and I watched wistfully while the Pujari changed the Pancha daily and draped those bought by the other couples. It was a small consolation for us that our Pancha continued to remain as a shawl on Ganesha's shoulders for two days. 

This morning the Pujari offered one last pooja to the idol before moving it. Before the Visarjan, the idol of Ganesha is slightly shifted from its place as a ritual. My husband and I attended the Pooja. 

The mystery of the Pancha seemed like it would never be solved. And in a way, we both had made our peace with it. 

Except, the Pujari started changing the Pancha draped yesterday. He took out a red one - the same one that we had offered - and he draped it around Ganesha as we watched in silent awe and wonder. 

Suddenly every doubt vanished and only one certainty remained. Ganesha HAD accepted our offering. It just took some time, that's all. With gratitude, we watched Ganesha, looking resplendent in red, in all His glory. 

Maybe it is a part of human nature to always doubt. And maybe, it is the Divine's nature to always prove that no prayer, no cry of the soul, no offering goes unnoticed or unaccepted. We just need to wait. 

And maybe, this waiting is what they call as Faith. That, in the end, we are noticed, seen and blessed by the Divine. Always. Unfailingly.