From birth we face a long series of beginnings. Pivotal moments in our lives—graduations, weddings and babies—occur with parties and cards wishing us luck or congratulations. As we celebrate the new beginnings, we often forget what comes after the wedding or the birth—change. We forget that every new beginning pushes us forward onto a journey. Although, the start of a journey provides a lasting memory, a wedding is nothing compared to a marriage. These journeys, begun with good wishes, congratulations, and “good lucks” often occur without prayer, thought, or the reality that we may need that overflowing luck.
Just as we think nothing of starting a car trip with out trepidation or prayer, we begin life’s journeys only looking toward the rosy outcome of our venture. Worse yet, some beginnings, such as weddings, constitute an end within themselves; we never look toward the daily routine of the new journey embarked upon. Even though, car trips take place without much thought of danger, we wish others a “safe journey” and call our families when arriving at a destination. In India, bus drivers worship Ganesha before setting out, and taxi drivers let his statue dance on the dashboard. People rely on Ganesha to help overcome obstacles, provide protection, and, not coincidentally, bless new ventures. He serves as the god of luck blessing those who place faith in him..
My wedding invitations include Ganesha; he is placed there to bless my new journey and help overcome all future obstacles. He provides me with luck and alleviates the fear associated with a marriage. Every new beginning is a venture into the unknown that should be feared; however, at the happy moments of our lives we repress fear. We speak of cold feet, as though all our fears are cliché and unwarranted, but marriages fail all the time. By placing Ganesha on the invitations I embrace the fear and acknowledge that I may need some help in the future. We hope for best as we begin a journey but sometimes we get the worst. While, we should not fear change enough to resist it, we should acknowledge our fears, analyze them and understand that they are valid. Ganesha, or other deities, help us address this fear through a prayer for luck and a positive outcome—we address not the fear, but realize that we may require luck.
Ganesha ushers in my wedding for that happiness far more than the fear. We begin these life journeys with faith, acknowledged or implied that our new journeys change us. We do not need to place faith in Ganesha, per say; he merely personifies the luck we require and helps place faith in happiness. We could replace Ganesha with other deities, or possibly the general acknowledgment of conflicting fears and hopes. The fear of disaster, the hope for a lucky outcome or the faith that beginning a new faze requires should not, however, be left in our subconscious. Just as Indian drivers look to the Ganesha on their dashboard to carry them safely through traffic, Ganesha provides us with a reminder of all the fears and hopes, as well as, the faith needed for the journey ahead.
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