— Sunita Viswanath, HfHR Cofounder

On this Ganesha Chaturthi (or Vinayaka Chavithi), several of us are fasting in solidarity with Prashant Bhushan, who may be going to prison for expressing his concern for India and its judiciary.  My ardent wish and prayer is justice for Prashant Bhushan and all those who are in jail in India just for raising their voices.  My parents always told me that Lord Ganesha never says no to children. With the ardency of my much younger self, I am praying today that the country of my birth reverses course and stops the madness that is going on -- the hatred and violence towards Muslims and Dalits and the silencing of voices of sanity and reason. Today, my mother will do a small Ganesha puja, and we will meditate and pray together.  

Lord Ganesha can help us navigate every challenge, crisis or conflict. May Lord Ganesha will show those in power in India a better way forward.

Vakratunda Mahakaya
Surya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvighna Kurumedeva
Sarva saaryessu Sarvada. 

(Oh Lord Ganesha of curved trunk and
large body; Brilliant as infinite suns;
May our work be free of all obstacles.)