Unity In Diversity: How A Ganeshotsav Decoration Brought Neighbours Together In Navi Mumbai

Ganeshotsav has always been one of the most vibrant festivals in Maharashtra — full of grandeur, devotion, and colour. But for me, this year it meant something much deeper. It became a reminder of how festivals can bring neighbours together as family, beyond the lines of religion or community.

It all began with my neighbour and dear friend, Varsha Nath. Every year, she comes up with a grand theme for her Ganpati decoration. Last year, she independently recreated the daily life of a rural village in Maharashtra. I still remember the detailing that went into the set-up, with dolls dressed in navaris, painstakingly sewn by Varsha almost a month in advance.

This time, on her son’s suggestion, she decided to recreate the set of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah for their 1.5-day Ganpati. The idea was ambitious — life-size cut-outs of Gokuldham Society and figurines of the popular characters like Jethalal, Daya, and Tapu Sena were to be made.

As the festival drew closer, however, the task began to look overwhelming. Painting the figurines, dressing them, erecting the cut-outs, and putting the entire stage together — so much was still pending, with the festival just a few days away. I realised that Varsha, known in our society for her creativity and painstaking attention to detail, was going to find it difficult to complete the project on time.

Even as I was still thinking of how to help, my family — the Munshis — stepped in voluntarily. From my in-laws to my husband, and even our daughters, everyone pitched in.

My elder daughter Saarah, along with Varsha, took on the task of painting each of the 20-odd figurines to resemble the TV characters. Equally immersed was my younger daughter Rida, who, together with Varsha’s twins Sparsh and Soumya, painted the fixtures like the grills and windows of the society. My mother-in-law Zakira and father-in-law Sajjad took charge of hand-sewing the tiny outfits for the dolls, while my husband Khalid and I worked on cutting, measuring, and fixing the life-size boards. The task at hand required us to stay up through the night to make sure everything was ready. Two young friends of the Nath family, Karan and Kunal, also joined in.

I still remember the atmosphere that night — laughter, paint-stained hands, the whirr of scissors, and cups of chai & refreshments from another neighbour, Seeta, a Tamil Brahmin, who kept us going. Even as the hours slipped by, Varsha retained her calm demeanour. Though tired, she kept smiling and guiding us through her vision. Till the last moment, she remained confident about achieving the desired results. “I knew Bappa would guide me through and make the impossible happen. It’s his blessings that my neighbours came on their own to help me with the work,” said Varsha.

She also recalled the wholehearted participation of Khalid in managing the procession for immersion. “Even though he had stayed awake through the night, the following day, Khalid was present to guide the traffic as the Puneri dhol group led the immersion procession,” she said.

We were neighbours, yes, but in that moment it felt like one big family working for a shared joy.

My husband Khalid summed it up best when he said, “We were only doing what’s often said — help thy neighbour. With the Naths, it feels more like helping family. Festivals aren’t just about rituals, they’re about bonds between people.”

When the Gokuldham Society set finally stood complete, it was breathtaking. But to me, the beauty wasn’t just in the colourful cut-outs or the figurines in hand-stitched clothes. It was in the togetherness. As the Nath family welcomed their Ganapati Bappa, I felt the true celebration had already happened — in the unity between Hindu and Muslim families, in the friendships that went beyond boundaries, and in the harmony that festivals like Ganeshotsav are meant to inspire.

For us, this Ganeshotsav will always be remembered not just as a creative decoration, but as a live example of unity in diversity.