Television actress Manasi Joshi Roy has shared the personal reason behind an important decision she and her husband Rohit Roy took regarding their Ganeshotsav celebrations. The actress revealed that the couple stopped celebrating Ganeshotsav at home in 2015 after the festival gradually became more focused on preparations, guests and social commitments.
Manasi, who currently plays the titular role in the television show Lakshmi Niwas, explained that the festival had initially been a deeply personal experience for her family. However, as the scale of their celebrations increased every year, she began feeling that she was losing her personal connection with Lord Ganpati.
Speaking to IANS, Manasi Joshi Roy recalled how the family initially welcomed Lord Ganpati for one-and-a-half days. Over time, the celebration extended to three days and became increasingly elaborate. The number of people visiting their home, food arrangements and other preparations continued to grow. Eventually, she felt overwhelmed by the activities surrounding the festival.
Why Manasi Joshi Roy Stopped Celebrating In 2015
Manasi Joshi Roy said that the turning point came when she realised that she had become so occupied with the arrangements that she was unable to spend meaningful time in prayer.
According to the actress, there was an “endless flow” of people, food and preparations during Ganeshotsav. While she enjoyed the celebrations and did not consider them negative, she felt that the growing social aspect was taking away from the personal connection she wanted to have with Lord Ganpati.
Manasi said she eventually realised that she had “lost her connect” with God because she was too busy managing the various aspects of the celebration. The actress explained that she could only sit peacefully in front of Lord Ganpati late at night, when the day's activities had finally come to an end.
This realisation eventually led Manasi and Rohit Roy to stop the formal Ganeshotsav rituals at their home in 2015.
A Conversation With Her Sister-In-Law Changed Her Perspective
An important part of Manasi Joshi Roy’s realisation came through a conversation with her sister-in-law. Manasi explained that her sister-in-law was more religious than her and had been bringing Lord Ganpati home even before Manasi and Rohit began the tradition.
When Manasi shared her concerns about feeling disconnected during the festival, her sister-in-law expressed a similar experience. She reportedly said that the family became so busy with the various activities that she could not even have a proper conversation with God.
Those words resonated with Manasi. She realised that the problem was not the festival itself but the way the celebrations had gradually expanded around them.
For Manasi Joshi Roy, this became an important moment of reflection. She understood that she wanted to reconnect with the spiritual side of Ganeshotsav rather than remain occupied with the social obligations that came with hosting a large celebration.
Ganeshotsav Remained Part Of Their Prayers
Although Manasi Joshi Roy and Rohit Roy stopped celebrating Ganeshotsav in the traditional way, the actress clarified that Lord Ganpati was never absent from their spiritual life.
She explained that Lord Ganpati continued to remain in their home temple and in their prayers throughout the years when they were not formally celebrating the festival.
This distinction was important for Manasi. The couple had not stopped believing or praying; they had simply decided to step away from the elaborate rituals associated with bringing the idol home and hosting a large celebration.
For the actress, the decision was about finding a more personal way to maintain her spiritual connection. She wanted the presence of Lord Ganpati to be something she could experience peacefully rather than something surrounded by constant activity.
Manasi Joshi Roy Reflects On The Changing Nature Of Ganeshotsav
While discussing her experience, Manasi Joshi Roy also spoke about how Ganeshotsav has evolved over the years.
She pointed out that the festival has developed into a major social event, with people visiting multiple homes and pandals during the celebrations. For families that bring Ganpati home, the festivities can involve significant preparation, hosting and social interaction.
Manasi also referred to the historical background of public Ganeshotsav celebrations, noting the role of Lokmanya Tilak in popularising community gatherings around the festival during British rule.
Her comments reflected her personal observation that the social and public aspects of Ganeshotsav can sometimes become so extensive that individuals may struggle to find quiet time for prayer.
She emphasised that her family did not stop celebrating because they disliked the festival. Instead, they wanted a different kind of experience—one that allowed them to spend time with Lord Ganpati without being consumed by the surrounding arrangements.
Rohit Roy Brought Bappa Home Again In 2023
The Ganeshotsav tradition eventually returned to the Roy household in 2023. After nearly eight years, it was Rohit Roy who suggested bringing Lord Ganpati home again.
According to Manasi Joshi Roy, Rohit told her that he wanted to bring “Ganu” home on Ganesh Chaturthi but wanted to celebrate the festival in a simple way.
His intention was not to recreate the elaborate celebrations of the past. Instead, he wanted to spend time with Lord Ganpati and experience the festival in a more personal manner.
Manasi agreed, and the couple welcomed Ganpati home again. The actress said that they have continued with the same simple approach since then.
The return of the tradition therefore did not mean going back to the old way of celebrating. Instead, Manasi and Rohit found a new balance between tradition and personal devotion.
A Simpler Way Of Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi
The way Manasi Joshi Roy and Rohit Roy now celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi is significantly different from their earlier experience.
The actress's account suggests that the couple now focuses more on spending personal time with Lord Ganpati instead of turning the occasion into a large social gathering.
For Manasi, simplicity has allowed her to reconnect with the reason she wanted to welcome Bappa home in the first place. The experience has also helped the couple continue a family tradition without feeling overwhelmed by its external demands.
Their journey from stopping Ganeshotsav celebrations in 2015 to bringing Bappa home again in 2023 reflects a personal change in how they approach the festival.
Manasi Joshi Roy’s New Television Chapter
While discussing her personal life and Ganeshotsav memories, Manasi Joshi Roy is also currently busy with her television career.
The actress plays the titular role in Lakshmi Niwas, a television show that has brought her back into the spotlight. Her latest comments about Ganeshotsav have given audiences a glimpse into her life away from television sets.
The actress has maintained a long association with Indian television and has appeared in several popular shows during her career. Her current role in Lakshmi Niwas continues that journey while her personal reflections have also attracted attention during the Ganesh Chaturthi season.
Why Her Ganeshotsav Story Has Resonated
Manasi Joshi Roy’s experience highlights a situation that many families may recognise during major festivals. Celebrations can gradually become larger as more people become involved, more preparations are added and social commitments increase.
In Manasi’s case, the growing scale eventually made her feel disconnected from the personal aspect of the festival. Her decision to stop the traditional celebration was followed years later by a return to the practice with a simpler approach.
The actress has made it clear that her family’s connection with Lord Ganpati never disappeared during the break. What changed was the way they chose to express that connection.
A Tradition Returned On Their Own Terms
Manasi Joshi Roy and Rohit Roy eventually found their way back to Ganeshotsav, but with a different perspective. After stopping the celebrations in 2015, they welcomed Bappa home again in 2023 at Rohit’s suggestion.
The couple now continues the tradition in a simple and personal manner. For Manasi, the experience has allowed her to retain the family tradition while also maintaining the quiet spiritual connection that she felt was missing from their earlier celebrations.
Her story serves as a personal account of how traditions can evolve over time. For the actress, bringing Lord Ganpati home is now less about the scale of the celebration and more about simply being present and spending meaningful time in prayer
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