As Mumbai decks up to welcome the elephant god, my house is buzzing with preparations for the Pithori pooja. A decades-old legacy, which we continue to nurture with faith, love and gratitude.
Pithori Amavasya marks the culmination of the holy month of Shravan. For us, it has always evoked memories of faith, family, and a legacy that grows richer with every generation. Traditionally, many households perform Pithori Pooja on this day—also observed as Matru Din or Mother’s Day—where mothers pray for the health, prosperity, and well-being of their children.
Grandmother and Pithori
At our house, the tradition began when my grandmother first performed Pithori Pooja when my father was a toddler. Since then, Pithori has come to symbolize the sacred bond of love and care between a mother and her child. Over the years, it has become a calling for many – relatives, neighbours, and friends who visit without the need for a formal invitation.
Every year, I watched my grandmother, mother, and aunts prepare the prasad with utmost devotion. Our humble one-room kitchen house would overflow with people. Yet space never felt like a constraint—hearts met before hands, and neighbours opened their doors without hesitation. Sitting arrangements spilled into the common passage, laughter filled the air, and everyone found their place with smiling faces and unwavering faith. That was Mumbai’s true cultural essence.
Aai and Pithori
As generations changed, so did our preparations. But what never changed was the spirit of bhakti. The same bhakti gave strength and courage to my ailing Aai to perform the pooja just after chemotherapy. Weakened with the dreaded disease, she once pondered, “Should we stop the pooja now? How will you manage alone? My health is not good.”
Her bhakti and willpower pushed Aai to stand on her feet on the day of Pithori Pooja when the disease engulfed her again. Bedridden with a rare second cancer, she was determined to stand on her feet for the pooja. That year, we performed the Pithori Pooja in the presence of limited family members, not realizing that the goodness was preparing us for what lay ahead for the world.
Covid struck the following year. All our festivals were celebrated indoors. In Aai’s absence, her thoughts lingered on my mind “How do we continue Pithori Pooja?”. Pithori was never just a pooja—it was an emotional bond, a legacy of love.
Nurturing the legacy
In a way, Devi herself answered my prayers through my sister-in-law, Pooja, whose presence helped us carry forward this tradition. Today, we continue Pithori with the same gratitude, remembering my grandmother and mother with every offering.
Yes, the prasad is simpler, the kheer is made in smaller quantities, but the bhakti and bhaav remain abundant. Year after year, we welcome this sacred day with hearts wide open, carrying forward not just a ritual but a reminder of care, love, and the winning spirit of faith.
As I pen these memories on the eve of Pithori, I feel once again that the universe conspires in its way to keep traditions alive. All we need is unfaltering faith and belief in our actions.
Nurture Winning Thoughts !
