The streets of Mumbai pulsed with the rhythm of ‘dhol’ beats as Ranbir Kapoor clad in a deep blue kurta and crisp white pyjamas stepped forward with his mother, Neetu Kapoor to bid a heartfelt goodbye to Lord Ganesha. Neetu, graceful in a simple white salwar suit, walked beside her son as they joined the sea of devotees swaying to chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya!” In the midst of the crowd, Ranbir cradled the idol with care, his voice rising above the drums, before pausing to break a coconut – a symbolic gesture of devotion – and bow his head for blessings one last time. The air was thick with incense and marigold fragrance as the aarti flames flickered in unison with the prayers. Days earlier, the festive spirit had also touched Kareena Kapoor Khan’s home where she captured a tender moment of her son, Taimur Ali Khan kneeling before a small, beautifully adorned Ganesha idol. The plate on which it rested bore the name “Jeh,” surrounded by flowers, incense, and the warm glow of a single candle – a quiet, intimate counterpoint to the grandeur of the ‘visarjan’.
