Ganesh Chaturthi 2017: Shilpa Shetty Kundra on not bringing Ganpati home this year

Shilpa Shetty Kundra has been celebrating Ganesh festival by bringing home a murti for the last seven years. This year, however, the actress did not get an idol home because she just finished with her father’s barsi. He passed away last year in October. “My dad used to love Ganpati celebrations, and we have great memories. It’s a little hard for me to not bring Ganpati home, but from next years I will continue with the tradition,” says Shilpa.

Not only that, the actress plans to make the festival completely eco-friendly. “I would get an idol made of plaster of Paris, which would be a replica of the Lalbaug Ganapti, for six years. Last year, I went to somebody, who made the idol with clay and mud. This year, I was impressed with Rithvik Dhanjani, who sculpted an idol. I have told him, ‘Either make one for me or teach me how to do it’. Also, now, I am going to to do the visarjan in my backyard and 
water the plants with that. It is important to preserve the environment and make sure that we invest in the festival for the long term,” she shares.

The best part of the celebration for her is friends and relatives visiting her house. “There is a constant stream of visitors and khaana-peena is the highlight in my home. There are a lot of delicacies including modak, gulab jamun, garam jalebi, etc. Also, I love the dhol-baaja that accompanies us for welcoming Bappa as well as for visarjan. Everyone comes out, dances and distributes sweets,” says Shilpa.