When Faith Meets Leadership: Ganesh Chaturthi at IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal’s Residence

Festivals in India are not just about rituals; they are about resetting our collective compass. They remind us that even in the busiest corridors of power, the fastest highways of commerce, and the glittering boulevards of cinema, there is room for pause, reflection, and gratitude. This year’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebration at the residence of IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal became one such moment — a gathering where faith met leadership, and devotion intertwined with dialogue.

The residence was not just a home but, for one evening, a confluence of diverse worlds. Celebrities like Salman Khan and Sonu Sood stood alongside philanthropists and industry leaders such as Niranjan Hiranandani, Anuj Puri, Jupally Ramu Rao, and Parag Munot. Vicky Oberoi, Boman Irani, and Sandeep Runwal joined too — voices from film, real estate, business, and community development. Together, they stood before Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, reaffirming a belief older than dynasties and stronger than markets: that renewal begins with reverence.

 

The Power of Gatherings

 

Sociologists often say that the strength of a society is measured not just by its institutions but by its informal gatherings — the spaces where conversations spark, ideas collide, and bonds are built. This celebration was one such informal parliament. It was not about titles or designations; it was about shared humanity. Salman Khan’s presence was a reminder that cinema continues to shape our collective imagination. Sonu Sood, who emerged as a citizen’s hero during the pandemic, symbolized service. Entrepreneurs like Niranjan Hiranandani and Anuj Puri represented continuity and risk-taking in a world of volatility.

That these diverse voices came together at the invitation of a civil servant speaks volumes about the leadership style of Sanjeev Jaiswal. His role has always gone beyond files and approvals — it is about creating ecosystems. And festivals, too, are ecosystems: they connect generations, geographies, and even galaxies of professions.

 

 

Tradition with Relevance

The rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi — the aarti, the offerings, the chanting — may seem timeless. But their real relevance lies in what they make us feel today. In Mumbai, a city defined by speed and stress, slowing down to sing together becomes a radical act. For business leaders, the celebration was a reminder that profit without purpose is empty. For celebrities, it was a moment to reconnect with the audience beyond the arc lights. For policymakers, it was a chance to see how culture creates trust — something no circular or notification can legislate.

Leadership Beyond the Office

Civil servants are often seen as faceless enforcers of rules. But the true ones — like Sanjeev Jaiswal — understand that leadership is about building trust both inside and outside government. Hosting such a gathering is not about vanity; it is about community. It signals that government is not distant, but part of the same fabric that celebrates festivals, shares meals, and bows before the divine.

What made this celebration remarkable was not just the list of guests but the quality of conversations. Housing, philanthropy, cinema, entrepreneurship, urban reform — these were not bullet points on an agenda, but organic threads that wove through informal chats. Ganesh Chaturthi, after all, is about beginnings. Who knows what partnerships or initiatives may quietly germinate from this shared evening of faith?

A Lesson in Balance

India’s challenge has always been about balancing the modern with the traditional, the individual with the collective, and the material with the spiritual. On that evening, balance was on display. An actor who entertains millions stood next to a developer who houses thousands. A philanthropist who invests in communities conversed with a policymaker who regulates them. The unifying force was not money or power, but devotion.