During these times, the routine is discarded for deep-cleaning the home, preparing sweets ( ), and hosting relatives.

During Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, a family of five living in a 500-square-foot apartment in Dadar hosts a 30-person gathering. They sleep on the floor. The men wash the dishes. The women drink chai. The idol of Ganesha sits in the middle, watching over the chaos. The story here is not the ritual; it is the logistics of love.

My mother wakes up at 5:00 AM (yes, before the radio) to prepare tiffins for my father, my brother, and me. If my brother gets Parathas (stuffed flatbread), I know he did something nice yesterday. If I get leftover Sabzi (vegetables) from last night, I know I forgot to call back when I said “I’ll call you right back.”