Mumbai: The financial capital of the country (Financial Capital Mumbai) is considered to be the biggest festival of Mumbai. After weeks of hard work for decorations, pandals, music and offerings, the Ganeshotsav of Mumbai is discussed in the country. The color and mood of this festival which is held on a grand and large scale every year, will have changed a lot this time because the state which was the most in the country in the grip of Covid-19, Maharashtra was the city and the city which was Mumbai is.
Ganesh Chaturthi is going to be celebrated on 22 August this year and different preparations are going on in Mumbai. After a week to ten days of festivities, the program of immersion of the idol on a very large scale in the sea has been the cultural pride of Mumbai, but this time small tanks are being built in many places. On one side there are instructions, on the other hand the organizers also have their own understanding. Know how the famous Ganeshotsav of Mumbai will look changed this time.
How did the rules reduce enthusiasm?
In the instructions issued last month, the state government asked people to immerse the idol in artificial water bodies. However, till now there is no ban for immersion in the sea or other natural water units. Despite this, Mumbai, which was the biggest hotspot of Kovid 19, has less enthusiasm this time. This time, rules have also been made regarding the height of Ganesh idols.
Till last year high Ganesha statues were seen in public pandals and more than two lakh people gathered at the time of immersion, especially at Girgaum Chowpatty. But this time the statue will be no more than four feet in public pandals and two feet in domestic tableaux. At the same time, artificial tanks are being built in every area under government instructions. In many places, the organizers who install the pandals are making tanks because according to the instructions no more than 5 to 10 people will be able to gather in the immersion.
Band will be played but less
Along with the grandeur of the Ganeshotsav of Mumbai, those who know Sarasata know how much music, or band baje, has importance in this festival. Artists of dhols, cards, and bands prepare for Ganeshotsav in groups of dozens and hundreds for weeks, and large concerts are held in pandals. However, this time due to the rule of social distancing, the crowd is not to be gathered, so there will not be a big procession, but there will definitely be a lot of music events because there is no ban on it.
No Raja of Lalbagh this year!
During the Ganeshotsav in Mumbai, the most talked-about Ganesh pavilion of Lalbagh has been visited by millions of devotees from all over the country and darshan in line for more than 24 hours. But, according to a report, for the first time in 86 years, this is going to happen that this year the Ganesh Mandap, the king of Lalbagh, will not be organized in Mumbai.
Can be seen online
On the lines of Lalbagh, some more famous pandals of Mumbai have also decided not to organize this year. GSB Pandal of Wadala is also one of these, which is not organizing this year. However, some of the pandals who are not organizing, have said that through social media, arrangements will be made to make the pilgrims online so that the pandals do not get crowded.
Still what, when devotees arrive at the pandals?
Despite all these changes, not as much as before, but what will happen if devotees reach a large number of pandals? In response to this question, the organizers are currently saying that this cannot be stopped, but they are going to take steps like sanitizing the pandal up to three times a day. Also, there will be a system of temperature and oxygen checks of the devotees.
However, this does not guarantee complete protection against corona virus infection. However, so far, there is no specific guideline or order like restriction from the administration or government regarding the access of people to visit the pandals. Finally, also know what is the economic aspect of these changes.
This year, donations are low and the economy is down
Since the economy has been affected due to Kovid 19, this time, the organizers for Ganeshotsav have reduced their donations. On the other hand, political parties and big businessmen have been investing money in pandals in Mumbai and sponsorship from big brands has been seen, this year too is lacking.
With the shrinking of the economy from Corona and the enthusiasm of Ganeshotsava fading, the sculptors are going to have a huge impact. They have been in business for a year only with the Ganesh and Durga idols, but this time this sizeable population is in trouble. This time, with the business, it has become difficult for these sculptors to get a place from the administration. Many sculpture makers have returned to their villages at the time of lockdown, which is another problem.
Overall, this year, Ganeshotsav of Mumbai will neither look grand nor very attractive due to many changes and circumstances. Nevertheless, an atmosphere of reverence and devotion will remain in Mumbai for ten days of the festival, it is also expected.
