New Delhi:With almost the whole world functioning virtually during coronavirus times, Ganpati will give darshan on Zoom, Facebook and Google platforms during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival which has been cut short from 10 to one and a half days at most places due to the pandemic.
The grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra may be unparalleled, but the homecoming of Bappa in Delhi is not lacklustre either.
Every year in August devotees 'bring' Ganesha into their house, temple, or pandal (temporary shrine) as a guest. The idol is worshipped with elaborate rituals for 10 days along with various cultural programmes. Festival organisers spend weeks in planning the pandals, decoration, programmes and gatherings.
This year with the festival approaching on August 22 they are busy creating social media links, arranging virtual darshans and ensuring safety and health protocols for those who will be there with the elephant-headed deity.
Marathi Mitra Mandal, Alaknanda, one of the oldest mandals in NCR region, will hold 'aarti' and darshans on FB live.
"This is the second time in 35 years we are bringing Bappa for only one and a half days. It is difficult to organise festivals in COVID times and breaking tradition is considered to be a bad omen," Nivedita Pande from the organising committee told Media.
"The problem is our Mandal is very old and we old people are not very tech-savvy. We are taking help from the younger generation and can at least have FB live aarti and darshans," she said.
Sarvajanik Utsav Samitia, a body of prominent Marathis residing in the capital, celebrates the festival every year with theatre performances, spiritual songs and a lot of dance-drama in association with Delhi Tourism at Dilli Haat, Kamani Auditorium and Mavalankar hall. For the first time in 25 years, they will bring Ganpati at a member's house.
"We can not have a big celebration this year and will welcome Ganpati at a member's house at Karol Bagh. Visitors will not be allowed. There will be aarti on Zoom platform in the evening with the immersion next day," said Neena Hejib, the executive chairman of the Samiti.