Namaskar! 
Had a unique and vibrant experience at our latest photo walk meetup held on 1st September, and excited to share the highlights! Hosted by the enthusiastic @Praniketmore , with the idea sparked by @AjitThite to support local businesses (#1), this virtual tour of Khed Market was a quick yet enjoyable exploration, joined by 12 local guides virtually. The streets and shops were abuzz, all decked out for the Ganesha festival.
From the comfort of our homes, we joined @Praniketmore as he navigated the lively streets of Khed Market on a motorcycle. Despite a few shops being temporarily closed due to unforeseen issues, we were treated to a stunning display of festival decorations and vibrant colors.
Highlights included a glimpse into the fascinating process of Bappa idol-making (#2) an experience that truly brought the festival’s cultural significance to life. We saw everything from small pooja items and nitro boxes for forming clouds around, to colorful garlands and other decoration items. Praniket’s careful framing and timing of meetup ensured we had excellent lighting, helping us make the most of every shot, even from afar. 
While concluding, everyone shared their stories of Ganesh Festival, I was particularly inspired by @Supriyadevkar taai’s concept of Ganesh Visarjan, which involves using eco-friendly shadu clay for the Ganesh idol and then immersing it at home. The water is subsequently offered to plants 
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Another brilliant concept of @AjitThite dada is to use a metal Ganesh idol each year and, instead of immersing it, simply wash its feet and keep it for the next year.
What a wonderful and environmentally friendly way to celebrate Ganeshotsav! 
A huge thank you to @Praniketmore for hosting such a dynamic and engaging virtual photo walk and shout out to @AjitThite for the beautiful concept of supporting local business. Do read his post for ways to support local business.
And thanks to everyone who joined and made this experience truly memorable. 
I’d love to see how you captured the magic of the local market during the Ganesha festival or the any festive season! Drop your favorite photos in the comments whether from this virtual tour or from any local markets near you. Let’s support small businesses through our shared love of photography. 
Until then Happy Festivities, Ganapati Bappa Morya …!!
#VirtualPhotoWalk #GaneshaFestival #KhedMarket #FestivalColors #SupportLocalBusiness #CapturedMoments #PhotoWalkRecap
