“Without Lata Didi Ganesh Chaturthi Isn’t The Same,” Usha Mangeshkar’s Heartbreaking Confession

The festive light has  gone out of the Mangeshkar  household.

“Didi  brought so much joy to  Ganesh Chaturthi . Unka utsaah hum sabko utsahit karta ttha. Unke  jaane ke baad  woh baat nahin rahi,” says Lataji’s sister  Ushaji as she recalls the many Ganesh Chaturthis  with  Lataji.

“Our home  would  wear  a festive year  for  ten days. During the auspicious  period,  ours would be an open house . Relatives, friends and  Didi’s  colleagues  from  music  industry would drop in any time . Didi would  attend  to each  guest  personally. Even strangers were welcome during Ganesh Chaturvedi. When we would  object she would say, ‘This is the time when Ganesh Bhagwan visits our home. So  the  guests come to see Him.’ And now…”

 Ushaji’s voice acquires a forlornness that we all feel in some form ever since Lataji left.

“Everything in our home Prabhu Kunj is  the same.We haven’t touched her room. Not one of her possessions has been  removed. We feel her presence  all around us,” says  Ushaji.