Ganesh Utsav — one of the popular festivals in Mumbai — may well be the most secure this year. Some of the popular mandals are spending thousands of rupees to provide a secure festive atmosphere as well as protect the Elephant God from the increasing threat of terrorist attacks.
For instance, the three largest Ganesh mandals in the city — Lalbaug Cha Raja Ganesh Mandal, Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandaland GSB Ganesh Mandal — have already put in place a complete security set-up. Lalbaug Cha Raja — one of the most popular with maximum devotees — has installed 30-32 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, 8-10 metal detector frames along with hand metal detectors, and fire extinguishers. The security need is pressing since the Ganpati idol wears 16 kg of gold, worth around Rs 2 crore at today's prices.
“Other than 200-400 police personnel’s we will also have around 3,000 volunteers scanning for any mishaps as well as assist the devotees. While the cameras are being provided to us free of charge we are spending close to Rs 200,000-300,000 on the other products,” explains Sunil Joshi, President Lalbaug Cha Raja Ganesh Mandal.
Last year, Lalbaug Cha Raja saw a contribution of Rs 5.50 crore as offerings from devotees. Besides the auction of various silver-wares and clothes that the idol wears fetched the mandal around Rs one crore. This year, the mandal is spending close to Rs 2 crore on decorations alone.
Not to be left behind, the richest Ganesh mandal, GSB Ganesh Mandal will have 24 CCTV cameras scanning the crowds, along with mobile jammers, explosive detectors and other security gadgets. “At any given time the Ganesh idol has jewellery worth Rs 8 crore plus there is additional cash and offerings that devotees leave. But we have been taking these measures for a few years now,” said Dinesh Pai, past president GSB Ganesh Mandal. This year the mandal has also created a crack team that will be spread out across the area.
The oldest Ganesh Mandal of Mumbai — Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal — populary known as Ganesh Galli, celebrating its 81st year is spending over Rs 7 lakh alone on security measures. “Apart from 22 CCTV cameras and the usual metal detectors and mobile jammers, the team of volunteers is also taking training for handling crisis situation. We think this is important as we are expecting over a crore of people visiting the mandal,” says Swapnil Suresh Parab, secretary, Ganesh Galli Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal. The decoration for the mandal is close to Rs 2.5 million this year.
As an added incentive, the Mumbai Police along with the Fire and Safety Association of India (FSAI) — consisting of 200 member firms — has instituted the ‘Best Secured Ganesh Mandal 2008’. The FSAI will honour the three most secure pandals in the city with Rs 125,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 along with a trophy. For this 11-day festival, Mumbai has over 600 ganesh pandals and the FSAI is trying to target these mandals to take appropriate steps.
Moreover, FSAI is also providing monitoring equipment on a rental basis. “We felt that it would not be feasible for these mandals to invest a huge sum in buying these equipment so we are providing them on rental basis. A kit of four cameras, with other recording equipment for 11 days (24x7) will cost Rs 50,000. We are also ready to reduce the price in case cameras are lesser in number,” says Ravikanth Malhan, spokesperson FSAI.
