Abhishek Jaiswal, who runs a thyrocare centre in Patna, celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with daughter Rani at their Rajendra Nagar home on Wednesday. The festival is not common in Bihar but the Jaiswals have been celebrating it for the past 15 years with much enthusiasm and traditional fervour. The tradition started when Abhishek’s father, Rajkumar Jaiswal, sent him to study microbiology in Mumbai. “Ganesh Chaturthi was a new festival for me and I was impressed. In Bihar, we celebrate Durga Puja and Chhath with a lot of excitement. When I witnessed Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai, I found it amazing. It seemed the whole state was engulfed in a religious fervour. Since then, I decided to celebrate it in my hometown,” said Abhishek. He added: “I think it is good to celebrate festivals of other states. It creates a sense of harmony. My six-year-old daughter has inculcated the practice as well.” The family will keep the idol for the next three days. “For the next three days, all my family members will celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi,” said Rajkumar, a doctor. Text by Amit Bhelari, picture by Deepak Kumar