ETV Special Report: Maharashtra braces for mellow Ganeshotsva

Every year Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much pomp and fervour in Maharashtra. However, this year, like every other festival, the celebration will be mellow keeping into consideration the regulations specified by the Maharashtra government to keep a check in the COVID spread. Various pandals have also agreed to tone down the festivities this year.

Mumbai: With the number of corona positive cases increasing with every passing day in Mumbai and Pune, and Ganesh Chaturthi being around the corner, the Maharashtra government has appealed to people to celebrate the festival in a simple manner this year. As ETV Bharat's special report unravels on how the much-awaited Ganesh pandals in Mumbai and Pune have prepared for a restrained festival which otherwise would have been one of the biggest festivals of the year.

Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug

One of the most famous Ganesh pandals in the country - the Lalbaugcha Raja of Mumbai and Raja of Ganeshgalli, has decided to carry out unique activities during the eleven festive days of the Chaturthi this year. The pandal has decided to donate plasma and organise a health camp during Ganeshotsav. The camp was inaugurated by Sharad Pawar.

Under the pandal, Arogyotsav will be held from 3 to 31 August and the outline of which was announced by on Saturday.

The camp will be held in collaboration with King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM) and registration for blood donation will start from 9 am to 12 noon in the before mentioned dates. During the same period, the families of the soldiers who were martyred in the conflict with China in Galwan Valley will be also be honoured with Rs. 2 lakhs and a badge of honour.

Also, the families of the police personnel who lost their lives while serving the people in the battle against Corona will be honoured with Rs. 1 lakh and a badge of honour.

From 22 to 31 August, COVID warriors of various establishments will be honoured and blood donation camp will be held from 10 am to 5 pm.

Mumbai Cha Raja, Ganesh Galli

The Ganapati of 'Ganesh Galli' is known as Mumbai Cha Raja and every year various forms of the magnificent Ganesha idols are specially made for this Ganesh pandal. However, this year the pandal has decided to give it a miss instead, the Ganeshotsav Mandal has decided to celebrate the festival by replacing the 22 feet idol of Mumbaicha Raja with a 3 feet idol.

A few days ago, there was a discussion between Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Ganpati Mandal. The decision to install a small idol was taken then due to the ongoing corona crisis. The Chairman of the board Kiran Tawde said that the arrangements will be made for the locals to pray to Lord Ganesha by maintaining social distancing norms.

Manache Ganpati of Pune

Kasba Ganpati, Tambadi Jogeshwari Ganpati, Guruji Talim Ganpati, Tulshi Bagh Ganpati, Kesari Wada Ganpati are the five most sought-after Ganpatis in Pune. The President of these Manache Ganpati has decided to place all these five Ganpatis in a 10 x 15 feet pandals. It has also been clarified by the organising committee that all the rituals performed during Ganeshotsav will be performed inside this pandal and although the Ganpati idol will be installed, devotees will not be allowed to visit it. However, online darshan system will be made available for devotees.

The three Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, Akhil Mandai Mandal, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati pandals are also very famous as the major Ganapati pandals in Pune. However, the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir has cancelled the annual Ganeshotsav.

The trust has decided to have this year's Ganeshotsav in the main temple on the backdrop of Corona. Due to corona, for the first time this in 127 years the festival will be held in the main temple for the first time this year.

"The decision was taken to prevent the spread of Coronavirus among Ganesh devotees and citizens," said Ashok Godse, President of the trust. This is the 129th year of Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati and Ganeshotsav is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year in the Pandal.

But this year the festival will be celebrated in a very simple way due to the pandemic and the inauguration of 'Shree' will take place in a temple. Although the festival won't be celebrated with pomp and show, all the rituals will be performed traditionally.

Meanwhile, devotees will be allowed to do Ganpati darshan and arti only online. The pandals across the city have decided to follow the rules laid down by the administration to keep in check the spread of the coronavirus this festive season.

How will Ganeshotsav be celebrated?
Shree Kasba Ganapati will be inaugurated by Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust Festival Head Hemant Rasne while Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati will be inaugurated by Shrikant Shete, President of Kasba Ganpati Mandal.

Similarly, Tambadi Jogeshwari pandal will be inaugurated by Akhil Mandai Mandal President, Anna Thorat and Akhil Mandai Mandal Ganesha will be inaugurated by Tambadi Jogeshwari Mandal President Rajabhau Tikar.

Guruji Talim Mandal will be inaugurated by Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati under the auspices of Puneet Balan and Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati will be inaugurated by Guruji Talim Mandal President Pravin Pardeshi.

Tulshi Bagh Ganpati will be inaugurated by Dr Deepak Tilak of Kesari Wada Ganpati, a descendant of Lokmanya Tilak while Kesariwada Ganpati will be inaugurated and Aarti will be officiated by the office bearers of Tulshi Bagh Mandal.