Use eco friendly Ganeshas, keep water pollution free: Neil Nitin Mukesh

The very prospect of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi is enough reason for actor Neil Nitin Mukesh to hop across continents to come back home. The actor, who was shooting filmmaker Bejoy Nambiar’s David in Belfast in Ireland, worked doubly hard to ensure he was home before the festival.

“We completed the schedule in record time as I wanted to be home in time to see Bappa at home. I had to work and put in longer hours for that, but then it is worth it in the end. I never miss this festival for anything in the world, except  for one year when I couldn’t manage to take time out from a hectic shooting schedule. Otherise, I always make sure to adjust my schedules to welcome Ganeshji home,” he confesses.

The Mukesh khandaan has been getting  the idol home for the past 19 years.  A tradition which has every member of the family getting involved in every aspect of Ganapati celebrations.

“I arrived exactly one day before the festival and by that time,  all the decorations and arrangements had already been made. My parents look into everything personally. This year, the entire backdrop has been designed by my mother. She makes it a point to ensure that the colours and the style of decoration vary every year.”

Looking back, Neil narrates the story behind the Ganapati celebration at home.  “It began 19 years ago, when my sister, Neha and I insisted that we get a Ganesha idol home. The first idol that we bought home was really small. Over the years the size of the idol grew, just like our love for Him. This year, you can see the idol is huge,  but the next year, I am not sure if I shall be able to get Him home through my door,” jokes Neil.

While he usually makes it a point to be home for all the 10 days of the celebration, to personally attend to his family and friends, there are times when he has cannot be there for all the days because of a hectic schedule.“This festival brings  my entire family together. I feel blessed when Ganeshji is home. And it’s painful when we have to let Him go. But we know that he is watching over us always.”

The actor stresses that one must keep in mind the environment when celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. “It is important that we are responsible even when having fun. I am all for advocating the use of eco-friendly idols,  that they don’t pollute the water during the visarjan. DNA is doing a fantastic  job with the eco friendly Ganesha initiative. I am sure it will make a difference,” says Neil.