The 10-day Ganesh festival in Mumbai is ending. The Patil family has kept the idol in their living room for a week. The floor is sticky with orange chandan (sandalwood paste). The air smells of incense. As they prepare to immerse the idol, the youngest kid, Aryan, starts crying. “Bappa is going away,” he sobs. The grandmother hugs him and whispers, “He will come back next year, beta.” This mix of deep devotion and practical scheduling is the essence of Indian daily life.
in the small puja shelf, the scent of sandalwood drifting into the hallway. By 7:00 AM, the kitchen is the command center.