Vardhaan Puri on Ganesh Chaturthi with grandfather Amrish Puri
Synopsis
Vardhaan Puri's Ganesh Chaturthi story is really a tribute to Amrish Puri — the handmade modak tradition that Dadu helped start lives on every year, binding a family scattered across the world and keeping a Bollywood legend's memory warmly alive.
Key Takeaways
Vardhaan Puri recalled celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with his late grandfather, legendary actor Amrish Puri .
The family has a tradition of making modaks by hand together — a ritual that began with Amrish Puri and continues today.
The Puri family celebrates Bappa for two days with Maharashtrian food before returning the idol to their temple.
For Visarjan, the family uses an eco-friendly Ganpati made of coconut as an environmental gesture.
Amrish Puri passed away on 12 January 2005 , aged 72 , and is remembered for his iconic role as Mogambo in the 1987 film 'Mr.
Actor Vardhaan Puri has shared warm recollections of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with his family, spotlighting the cherished role his late grandfather, legendary Bollywood actor Amrish Puri, played in shaping those memories. Speaking ahead of the festival, Vardhaan offered a rare, personal glimpse into a tradition that has continued across generations.
The Modak Tradition That Began with Dadu
'My fondest childhood memory of Ganesh Chaturthi is the beautiful tradition we started when we first brought Bappa home,' Vardhaan said. 'My Dadu, my Dadi, parents, my sister Sachi, and my entire family would come together to make Bappa's favourite food — modaks with our own hands.'
He noted that the tradition has endured without interruption: 'That tradition continues till today, and every year, Bappa's arrival brings so much love, happiness, and celebration into our home. It feels like a beautiful blessing that we get to experience together as a family.'
A Global Family Gathering for Two Days
Vardhaan described the festival as an annual reunion of sorts. 'During Ganpati, our entire family comes together from all over the world to celebrate Bappa,' he said. The family brings the same idol from their temple into the living room, marks Bappa's birthday for two days with Maharashtrian food and modaks, and then returns the idol to the temple.
Notably, the family has adopted an eco-conscious practice for Visarjan. 'We bring an eco-friendly Ganpati made of coconut, because we truly believe that while celebrating Bappa, we must also take care of His most beautiful creation, our Mother Earth,' Vardhaan explained.
The Life Lesson Bappa Taught Him
Beyond the festivities, Vardhaan reflected on the deeper spiritual message he draws from the occasion. 'One thing Ganpati Bappa teaches me is to trust His divine plan. He comes into our homes every year, fills them with love, laughter, and celebration, and then leaves — only to return again, bringing with Him even greater joy,' he said.
Amrish Puri: A Legacy That Lives On
Amrish Puri, one of Hindi cinema's most iconic actors, is widely remembered for his unforgettable portrayal of Mogambo in the 1987 film 'Mr. India'. He passed away on 12 January 2005, aged 72. For Vardhaan, these Ganesh Chaturthi rituals serve as a living thread to his grandfather's memory — and a reminder that family traditions can outlast even the most towering personalities.
Point of View
But Vardhaan Puri's account carries genuine texture — the eco-coconut Visarjan, the global family reunion, the modak ritual seeded by Amrish Puri. What's quietly significant is how this keeps Amrish Puri culturally present two decades after his death: not through nostalgia tours or biopics, but through a living family tradition. For a generation of fans who grew up fearing Mogambo, that human side of the legend is the real story here.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vardhaan Puri's favourite Ganesh Chaturthi memory?
Vardhaan Puri's fondest memory is making modaks by hand with his entire family — including his grandfather Amrish Puri — when they first brought Bappa home. He says the tradition has continued every year without fail.
How does the Puri family celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
The family brings the same Ganpati idol from their temple into the living room, celebrates for two days with Maharashtrian food and handmade modaks, and then returns the idol. For Visarjan, they use an eco-friendly idol made of coconut.
Who was Amrish Puri and when did he pass away?
Amrish Puri was one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated actors, best known for playing the villain Mogambo in the 1987 film 'Mr. India'. He passed away on 12 January 2005 at the age of 72 .
What spiritual lesson does Vardhaan Puri draw from Ganesh Chaturthi?
Vardhaan says Ganpati Bappa teaches him to trust in a divine plan — that the cycle of arrival, celebration, and departure, followed by an even more joyful return, is a metaphor for faith and patience.
Why does the Puri family use an eco-friendly idol for Visarjan?
The family chooses a Ganpati made of coconut for Visarjan because, as Vardhaan explained, they believe that celebrating Bappa also means protecting the natural world He created. It is a conscious environmental choice the family has made part of their annual tradition.
