By Prittle Prattle News
Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav celebrations during Lockdown – Since 1890, Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav celebrations have been part of the identity of Maharashtra. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, things have changed into the new normal. Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav celebrations have been celebrated in Mumbai with new hope in everyone’s life that signifies “Bappa is Coming Home”. The festival brings some sweet modak and decorations of Mandals around the city. In the hush of celebrations, there is heart-filled respect for Ganeshji in welcoming him every season and every year. The welcoming of this festival starts 10 days in advance. People start decorating their houses and preparing sweets to create beautiful memories as it signifies the New beginning.
The 11-day festival, during which people worship Lord Ganesha, starting on the 22nd of August on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and end on the 1st of September on Anant Chaturdashi.
BMC permission
Many Mandals around 3000 Mandals apply for permission this year to BMC to go ahead for celebrations. Lalbaughcha Raja is the 86 year old tradition that is marketed in the Country during the festival to undertake celebration on a larger scale. There are people across India who visit this place to View the Ganesh Raja decorated at its supreme. According to the guidelines of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), several public celebrations have been canceled. Every year around 3,000 mandals apply for permission, but this year, hardly 300 Ganpati pandals applied to the BMC for permission to set the pandals.
Many prominent mandals, including the largest – Lalbaugcha Raja, have called off their 86 years old tradition of celebration and would be undertaking blood donation and plasma donation camps.
Guidelines this season
But this year there were guidelines for celebration where the Ganpati idols were only for 4 feet and the home ganpati idols were not more than 2 feet. To protect the environment, the BMC has introduced the eco friendly Ganpatis which set a new trend while the celebration starts in full swing.
The 11 day festival truly brings the new desire of hope and beginning for the people in India. Not to forget , the modaks which add a value to the celebration by its sweet happiness.
As per the list of guidelines for the 11-day festival, mandals must restrict the height of Ganpati idols to four feet, while home idols should not be more than 2 ft. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also met various mandalas and urged them to limit the size of idols.
