Ganesh Utsav!!

Its the 11th and final day of Ganesh Utsav, the day when devotees finally bid audieu to Ganeshji. Its the third time I am witnessing this festival here but somehow it did not touch me in the past two times the way it did today.
We went to Dadar chawpatty (one of my fav hangouts with CJ) in the afternoon and bid farewell to our Ganeshji. I could observe the grand arrangements done for this festival on route. and I could anticipate what would follow in sometime when the big ones follow us later in the day. In my heart, i promised myself to be witness to the fun and flair this 3rd time.
Sadly, it started raining and din look like stopping. I was still at home waiting for the weather to clear and find a way to go out and join the celebrations but fearfull of the crowd, the jam etc etc. Finally when i couldnt hold myself any more i stepped out and reached Matunga circle (Kings circle) and i saw something i could only imagine but never thought could be true. The festival is so close to the heart of Mumbai, it is celebrate right on the main roads. All prime roads are blocked, with only queues of Ganeshji's idols thronging the roadways in trucks. The streets are all decorated with lights, people are out on the road in the rain, drenched, climbed onto the trucks yet to cover kms to reach the immersion spot. There is mella, right on the roads and you cant escape it.
The arrangements are good. There is a policeman at literally every 50 m today, guiding the traffic, keeping an eye. A thought for them too, no time with family for them, seems entire force is on duty today, on a sunday. The traffic is controlled very well and I couldnt take my car beyond a point (on the main road i.e.). I park it, open my umbrella and join the crowd. I have never seen such bunch of people, all immersed in celebrations, from head to toe.
Remember, all this in face of the contantly lingering fear of the terrorists, the blasts. No doubt, no one celebrates the way Mumbaikars do.
Its almost 11:30 pm now and i can still hear the constant beat of the drums in the distant, the crackers bursting now and then, the music still on at full volume and I can imagine the sight too I saw some hrs back - crowd of people on the streets - all just Happy!! and It will go on till the wee hours of the morning. Looking at them it seems that thats what a human actually want to do - and my heart right now too longs to join them.