In the name of God

As yet another Ganpati festival gets over, I'm yet again confronted with a sight I'm used to for the past 2 decades of living by the sea. Thousands of dead fish strewn on the beach. The result of all that plaster of paris, oil paint, garlands, confetti et all put into the sea.
And the sand strewn with plastic bags, food wrappers, rotting flowers, confetti, thermcol. The trucks will come again.....and again scoop away a layer of sand to be thrown away in some dump. The very grains of sand that nature has taken hundreds of years to create.
Do you know that as a 6 yr old playing on the beach I used to collect seashells by the bucketful. Take a walk down Juhu beach today. If you spot more shells than I have fingers you will know how I feel.
And this year the "band baja" has been more. Lot more people on the beach. More lavish celebrations......fireworks, bigger idols, mobile music stations on handcarts, the works.
The newspaper too has been filled with the details.....which is the biggest idol, which mandal collects the most money, which film star is linked to which group, who is getting which DJ to "spin" Ganpati music on the truck from the mandal to the sea.
And in all this I wonder.......would it be so bad to have a little clay idol, with no colour, one that is prayed to religiously everyday, and immersed quietly in the sea following the age old tradition and with tranquility ?
Isn't it the thought that counts ? The sincerity and all that ? And last time I remember isn't ego, pomp, show of wealth, causing nuisance to others the very virtues that God denounces and we seem to exhort every time we celebrate a large festival ?
So next time you pat yourself on the back for having immersed a larger idol than last year and burst that 1 lac "laddi" on the beach and expect blessings remember this. There are thousands of fish, crabs, prawns et all who are wishing just the opposite for you. Infact I won't be surprised if they are hoping really bad things happen to you. After all they are God's creatures too.
Hint: Next year try to have a little clay or natural idol. Pray sincerely. Be thankful. I'm sure God won't mind that the idol doesn't have all that toxic oil paint on it and a plaster of paris interior. Infact the one may just be that little bit more grateful :)