Hindustan Times ·
Taste of Life: Ganpati melas: Songs, crowds and a struggle for food
The songs performed by the melas were meant to inculcate patriotism and valour in the hearts and minds of the young and the old and make them aware of certain social issues
The Ganeshotsav in the early part of the last century was known for its many dance and song troupes, known as “Ganpati melas”. Children, young men and women who were part of these groups would sing songs and dance during the festival’s ten days. Famous mela groups performed at important Ganpati pandals, and several mandals hosted more than one mela each night.
The songs performed by the melas were meant to inculcate patriotism and valour in the hearts and minds of the young and the old and make them aware of certain social issues. However, these songs often ridiculed “Western education” and progressive thought. They also ridiculed and denigrated women who sought education, young men who frequented clubs and restaurants, widows who remarried, and progressive, liberal leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Pherozeshah Mehta. Melas such as the Shilimkar Mela, Navtarun Mela, and Gopal Mela chided youth for embracing ‘modern’ values.