Against All Odds | How Ganpati dhol-tasha gave this single mother’s life its rhythm back

Mother’s permission and son’s encouragement

As a young girl, she longed to join a pathak, but her mother refused, telling her such things were “for boys”. Years later, during a period of deep mental exhaustion, she watched a friend head off to pathak practice, and something in her stirred back to life. Rushikesh Palande first gave her the chance to join, and in 2018, she became part of his Shree Mourya Dhol Tasha Pathak, Dhanori, where she was living at the time. It has been a decade of showing up every year since, even after she and her family later moved to Lohegaon. Her mother eventually told her to do whatever brought her peace, and that permission changed everything.

Chitrilekha Shivaji Navle with her family. (Photo by special arrangement)

Aarnav, 23, runs his own tourism business, which he has been building for the past two years. He was also the one who first pushed his mother back towards the pathak, and she hopes more young people will encourage their own mothers to find such spaces too.

The path hasn’t been without its thorns and hurts. As an older woman surrounded by teenagers clicking selfies, Chitralekha often felt invisible, with no one around to capture her moments. This year, her daughter-in-law, Sakshi, a studio anchor at News Uncut, changed that, standing by her through every practice and performance.

Chitralekha believes Ganeshotsav visarjan needs only dhol and tasha, not blaring DJs and songs, which she feels add nothing but noise.

For her, pathak is therapy. “Bhagwan ki seva sirf modak bana ke nahi, urja se karo (Do God’s service not just with making modaks, but also with energy),” she says. “Jab bhi main practice se wapas aati hoon, mujhe neend achhi aati hai (Every time I come back from practice I sleep well),” she adds simply.

Two hours a day, two months a year. To Chitralekha Navle, that is a small price for a life that finally moves to its own beat.

Bhagyashri Prajapati is an intern with The Indian Express, Pune.