We have all experienced moments when our carefully laid plans crumble, leaving behind disappointment. For Air India flight attendant Anuradha Soni that moment came on Ganesh Chaturthi — a festival marked by welcoming of Lord Ganesha into homes, family gatherings, and prayers. Also read | Inside Ambani family’s grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Antilia with stunning lights and elaborate floral decor
What happened?
A last-minute flight reschedule meant Anuradha could not attend the Ganpati puja at home. Instead of surrounding herself with loved ones, she stepped onto an aircraft, preparing for another flight. I had to operate another flight, and I thought to myself ‘ Bappa , iss baar aapki puja miss ho jayegi’ (I will miss praying to you this time,” she added. But life aboard an airplane can unfold in unpredictable ways. Anuradha shared that a passenger boarded the plane carrying a carefully wrapped idol of Lord Ganesha. Right around the time Anuradha would have been participating in Ganpati prayers at home, she found herself face-to-face with the divine presence she thought she had missed.
Because of that, I couldn’t attend the Ganpati Puja at home, “My flight got changed, and.
“Today, I was actually feeling very sad,” she shared in the caption of her September 14 Instagram post. “To my absolute surprise, a guest brought a Ganpati idol on our flight, right around the time of Ganpati Puja,” she wrote, adding, “And suddenly, there I was… at 35,000 feet… doing my puja, saying my prayers, and taking Bappa’s blessings.”
‘Bappa will never leave his devotees alone’
In a world where air travel is often associated with delays, stress, and routine, Anuradha’s moment at ‘35,000 feet’ served as a poignant reminder: faith, devotion, and a sense of home have no fixed boundaries — sometimes they find you just when you need them most. One Instagram user shared a similar story: “This happened to me. I had to come on a work trip, missed Ganpati puja back home, and was very sad, as Ganesh Chaturthi is my favourite festival. But somewhere in my heart and mind, I suddenly got a thought: if I can’t be where Ganpati is, why not bring Ganpati with me? And I brought a Ganpati idol with me and did the pooja in my hotel room. Bappa is there for everyone; he will never leave his devotees alone. Another summed up the moment, commenting: “So lucky and such a sweet gesture.
