Dilemma of a high profile Pujari - should he pray for BJP or Congress?

There's no doubt that Maharashtra’s favorite deity is Lord Ganpati. From businessmen to celebrities, common man to netas, almost everyone is busy celebrating Lord Ganesha's festival. During this festival, to perform a traditional puja, everyone calls a pandit (priest). In Hindu mythology, the pandit is an important person who is authorised to perform various 'vidhis of puja'. 

Lord Ganesha is known to be the 'ichhaapurti god', a god who fulfills the wishes of his devotees. So, every time a devotee does a puja of Lord Ganesha, he/she hopes that the pandit will convey his/her message to the Lord Ganesha & will give them blessings.

But what if one pandit performs puja at the homes of two arch rival politicians? What would be going on his mind? Would it be easy for him or very difficult?

We tell you a story of a high profile pandit who is trapped in a 'dharm sankat' (dilemma)…if you think the job of pandit is very easy & then meet pujari Mandar Joshi.

Mandar Joshi is a family priest of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. Like every year, this year as well, Mandar Joshi performed puja at Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence Varsha bungalow & gave blessings to him. Maharashtra has been going through a difficult phase lately. Whether it is farm distress or unemployment or inflation, almost on every front people of Maharashtra have been suffering. As Lord Ganesha is also known as “vighnharta” (remover of all obstacles), so, Fadnavis seems to be praying for the well being of the state & its people. 

After performing puja at the Varsha bungalow, Mandar Joshi, makes his way towards the home of the former Chief Minister of Maharastra Ashok Chavan. Mandar Joshi first met Ashok Chavan when he was cultural Minister of Maharashtra. Since then Mandar has been performing Ganesh puja at his residence every year. This year, Ashok Chavan prays to Lord Ganesha to bring peace, prosperity to the state.  

Like Fadnavis, Mandar also gave his blessings to Chavan. But the ‘dharm sankat’ here is that Fadnavis wants to remain in power for long, whereas Chavan wants to come back in power again. In this case, pujari Mandar Joshi doesn’t know what to do, for whom he should pray & what do he say to god.

When Republic asked Mandar, what kind of dilemma he faces while performing puja at both the politicians' residence, he just smiled & refused to answer our question. He said, I don’t want to say anything on this topic.

Yes, we can understand, it’s not easy for him to answer our question.