Banasawadi Ganesha Gang

Splitting the above title one can make out that we hail from Banasawadi and what got us together was Ganesha. Things have changed with time in last 21 years but as it was audible yesterday, the spirit is alive. Will limit this blog to Quick one liner introduction to our gang:

(Against the blogging disclaimers - comments, suggestions and additions to the below are welcome)

Ramesha-> Life cycle owner (design, manufacture, maintain) of Audio system. Has been a rookie photographer for last 21 years

Ashoka-> Our ganesha in the flesh form, Resells one’s ‘kacha’ back to same person

Kanna-> alias Double barrel: 1. starters at home, main course at tamarind 2. Snores like a double barrel bazooka, the proven weapon which has scared off wild animals from ganesha pendal.

Muku-> coined “lata lata”, takes credit of fact that the gang is overweight

Usha-> Only person to make profits in the carnival. Takes credit for introducing us, to the third world names of “Pav Bhaaji” “Rugda Pattis” “Gobi Manchurian”

Anu-> Mentor, without her fundas we would not have been the individuals that we are today (pun intended)

Asha-> Brought Bollywood to our ganesha

Soma-> introduced PJs to the gang, Went on the whole nights with VP singh stuff

Viniya-> showed to the world that a man can sleep in a fish market

Yoga-> Expert dramatist and Veena player and man to coin the word “Mruganayini”

Sudhira-> BBMB “Bada bankar maal banega”. Made the wrong choice (with Pani) of bunking school as against cleaning up the gutters of ganesha pendal, still paying up for this mistake

Praveen-> Brought serial sets and flash lights, giving the shivajinagar touch to our ganesha

Shashi-> showed us Babusapalya was right next to Banasawadi, mukli urstha idha. But taught us how to ride a bullock cart when transporting pots back to sudhira's home

Shankara-> Has taken temple prasadam and meals to the next level of taste and efficiency

Naga -> Standardized Prasada distribution to qualify for 6 sigma levels.

Mangalesha-> Dug out the modaliyar treasure below the tombstone

Kalkere shastry-> showed us Poojari’s can also have a sense of humour. Taught dead and alive the patience to wait

LNS->The first ‘shastry’ customer for Shankar Bhel

P-> An example of ‘living dead’

Pani-> Still the only hope for ‘stretchalon’ chaddi market

Ragsi-> Abetted with Pani, ensured ganesha tasted the modern junk food from all corners of bangalore

Smitha-> Decoration architect in the initial stages, before passing the mantle to Rashmi

Shobha-> has got us all addicted to Lemon tea

Sowmya-> is the only hope to control the next generation with her 'popeye' stunts

Rashmi-> Current decoration expert bringing in a professional touch. Noteable achievement was creation of the famous ‘Marriage Pendal’

Sumana-> Probably the only silent member in the gang

Uma-> Invented stone rangoli, gave world the solution to rangoli problem in monsoon

Vidya-> Tamboori for yoga veena performance

KBS -> Did not invent the puliyogre, but made it taste much better

SRS-> Spirit and energy unlimited, Quotable quotes (QQ) “Kalyananagara aastika mahashayaralli vinanti”

Betraj uncle -> Sanskrit pandit, showered bhagavadgita on Ramkumar. Still the man behind the temple backend support

Manjula Aunty -> showed us women can whistle

Kamala Aunty-> The architect of the big ‘Mosaranna sandige’ fight between KBS and soma

Geeta Aunty-> ‘Lataji’ of our ganesha, helped me realize that singing was not my piece of cake.

Chandra Aunty-> Responsible for networking with KR market

Seema Aunty-> Process owner of prasada distribution at sankashti/Satyanarayana Pooja

Seethamma Ajji -> Senior most member and was the oldest cheer leader in the world

Ambabai ajji-> QQ “Mundedu somu karrige idru, tumba lakshana ide”

Kantamma Ajji -> First decoration architect, also pizza hut’s oldest customer by age

Girija: Ruled our ganesha dance stage for a decade

Vijji uncle (TKS)-> Has the distinct record of being the only person to have attended each ganesha concert in 21 years

Narayana Murthy-> brought sense into announcements and vote of thanks

Some Guest appearances:

RamKumar-> Showed us that every small item can be accounted

Shankar sir-> ensured ashoka was not alone in selling chaddis

Raghavendra /Venkatesha– > Have not yet returned back from coffee since 1991.

Dhaadi Mukunda –> ended the fact that dogs were teetotalers, fed beer to his dog

Meera Aunty-> failed miserably to inspire the gang into singing, but delivered a superhit chorus “Rama-ho”

Somnath-> made the first professional ganesha banner

Pousha-> was the show stopper with her leg-ins and rajastani dance

Padmini/Sarala -> The reasons why our last day dance programs were over crowded