It’s all very festive and Gokuldham Society has welcomed Ganapati Bappa with the same excitement as it celebrates all other festivals. However this year, in Neela Tele Films’ ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ (TMKOC) on Sony Sab, Master Bhide has shouldered the entire responsibility of organising the Ganeshotsav Pandal as well as arranging for the food and other requirements. Everyone is gearing up in preparation of the pooja and decorations while the women have become busy sorting out their dresses for the occasion. On this auspicious occasion artists of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah have shared their opinions.
“Like every year, this year too we are going to celebrate Ganeshotsav with full excitement and energy. Also this year, Bhide has taken the responsibility of sorting everything out by himself so there is very little to worry about. What I find special about Ganeshotsav is that the festival brings everyone together and during this time of the year the atmosphere remains spiritual and charged. I have been praying to the Ganapati Bappa for helping me find my life companion and I am sure he will answer my prayers soon. Meanwhile, it will be worth finding out how Bhide manages to put together the celebrations,” says Shyam Pathak who plays the role of Patrakar Popatlal in TMKOC.
“This festival is particularly very special to me because not only do I celebrate Ganeshotsav with everyone in Gokuldham society but I also host Ganapati Bappa at my home. And throughout the duration of his stay with us, the entire atmosphere feels spiritual. I feel very fortunate that I get to worship Ganeshji with both my professional and personal families. For the occasion, my wife prepares special modaks which I get to the sets to share with my co-artists. Also, just like we bring eco-friendly Ganapati Bappa in Gokuldham similarly, we bring only eco-friendly Ganapati idol at home too. It is important for us all to protect the environment while we celebrate our festivals,” says Mandar Chandwadkar who plays the role of Aatmaram Bhide in TMKOC.
“This year, Ganeshotsav is going to be doubly special for me and I’m very excited. For so many years I have only watched people of Gokuldham society especially Tapu Sena in TMKOC celebrating the festival but with Bappa’s blessings, I will now have the privilege of celebrating with them on the show. I pray to him that he keeps showering his blessings on us forever. I usually attend Ganapati celebrations at a few of my friends’ place and I will do the same this year as well. I have watched how Gokuldham society has always stressed on hosting eco-friendly Ganapati idols only and so I too always promote the same idea amongst my neighbors and friends. One more special reason that I like this festival so much is that I get to eat a variety of sweet treats in the form of Prasad,” says Palak Sidhwani who plays the role of Sonu in TMKOC.
“We host Ganapati Bappa every year at home and all through the duration of his stay, the atmosphere remains vibrant with the aartis and pooja. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to host and serve Ganapati Bappa with both my personal and professional families. On the sets, as soon as they say ‘action’, the aarti commences, we all get completely engrossed in praying and none of us even feel that we are in the middle of a shoot. It is with his blessing that the show has run for over eleven years and even today the audiences continue to shower us with their love. We pray that our viewers continue to love us and Bappa’s blessings remain with us forever,” says Sonalika Joshi who plays the role of Mrs. Madhavi Bhide in TMKOC.
Like every year, viewers will receive Bappa’s blessings along with many more reasons to laugh out loud but what will be interesting to watch is how Bhide maintains his calm handling the entire arrangement for the celebrations.
