1 week Ago
Vadodara: Nikitin Contractor , a devout Parsi, woke up early on Monday and offered prayers to Ahura Mazda at his sprawling bungalow in Sayajigunj. A while later, Contractor lit a diya, decorated a puja thaali and performed the aarti for Lord Ganesha. Like all ardent worshippers of the vighnaharta, Contractor never misses celebrating the Ganpati festival.
"I have been participating in the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities since my childhood. However, it was 15 years ago that I decided to install a Ganesha idol at our home. I just felt that I should bring Ganesha home for peace and prosperity.
It has since been an annual ritual," Contractor told TOI. He diligently adheres to all the rituals and performs Ganesha aarti twice a day during the three days when the idol graces his home. His devotion has deepened over the years, leading him to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle.
"Earlier, I used to have non-vegetarian cuisine on special occasions and loved some of the dishes. But after I began celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, I decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. The change was influenced by both faith and my desire to lead a healthier life.
During the festival, I prefer to have a diet rich in fruits," Contractor, a trustee of Parsi Agiyari in Sayajigunj, said. "There is a chawl right behind my bungalow where a Ganesha idol is installed every year during the festival for several decades now. Even my ancestors performed the aarti there.
This festival is about community bonding and bringing people together," Contractor added. He also runs a cafe in his bungalow that offers only vegetarian dishes..
