When each and everyone is swinging into the web during coronavirus times, Ganpati will also shed his blessings on Zoom, Facebook and Google platforms on 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 glory of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra is unmatchable, but the homecoming of Bappa in Delhi can't be under estimated.
Every year in August devotees ‘bring’ Ganesha into their house or temple as a guest. The idol is worshipped with long lasting rituals for 10 days along with various cultural programmes. Festival organisers spend weeks in planning the 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.
Sarvajanik Utsav Samitia, a body of prominent Marathis residing in the capital, celebrates the festival every year with performances, spiritual songs and a lot of dance drama in association with Delhi Tourism at Dilli Haat, Kamani auditorium and Mavalankar hall.
“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. We are having cultural programmes where artistes record their performance and send it or they can go live in case of a solo performance ,” said Neena Hejib , the executive chairman of the Samiti.
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In Maharashtra Sadan, Ganesh will stay for five days and there will be no processions or any event this time. “The idol will be small and there will be only morning and evening aarti. Number of visitors will be strictly restricted while sanitisation, temperature checks will be done at the entry gate,” said Pramod Kolapte, liaison officer, Maharashtra Sadan.
“It will be a small scale function of two days only where we will abide by safety and health protocols. We will have two musical programmes telecast live on FB . CCTV cameras, sanitisers and oximeters would be installed in the area,” said Mahendra Ladda , the founder president of the association.
Tell us how are you planning for this year's Ganesh Chaturthi?