Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Maharashtra rolls out red carpet for Lord Ganesha

982535
982535
minus
plus

Mumbai: Despite high inflation and spiralling fuel prices, Maharashtra rolled out the red carpet for the popular elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha as the state immersed itself in the 10-day long and biggest public festival on Thursday.


Around one million gigantic, big and small idols of Lord Ganesha have reached the homes of the commoner people, celebrities, industrialists and politicians, housing complexes, waadis/waadas, private and public companies, besides the huge or gigantic ones at public marquees organised by Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals in Mumbai and all over the state.


In Mumbai, an estimated 3,00,000-plus big and small idols of Lord Ganesha will be installed at private and public venues, and around a million across Maharashtra, said Naresh Dahibhavkar, President of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS).


The day started with the ‘sthaapna pooja’ followed by traditional ‘aartis’ and chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’, as the fest started without plastic, thermocol decorations and other harmful materials, besides observing air, noise and water pollution norms.


Special prayer ceremonies were performed at various Ganesha Temples including the Siddhivinayak Temple in Dadar, Ganesh Mandir in Goregaon and Borivali, and the Ashthavinayak Temples in the state.


Mumbai has nearly 11,500 big-ticket Ganeshotsav associations with budgets of several crores of rupees, nearly 1,95,000 medium scale with budgets ranging from Rs 5,00,000 to Rs 5 million, and lakhs of individual households and other private organisers with small budgets.


The GSB Seva Mandal, Kings Circle, will unveil its 14.5 feet tall idol adorned with over 68 kgs of 22-carat gold and 327 kgs pure silver, besides expensive diamond-studded jewellery, mostly donated by devotees, making it the richest Ganpati celebrations marquee in the world attracting nearly a million visitors.


Other noteworthy installations include a 10-feet tall idol made entirely from e-waste and circuit boards at Korum Mall in Thane,


a 5.2 feet tall paper quilting idol created by Bhagyashree Deshpande using over 40,000 coloured paper strips glued together by 4.25 kg of Fevicol.


Thane social worker Umesh Thanawala has installed an 18.2-inch bronze idol showing Lord Ganesha in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s attire.


— IANS


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon