Page 2 - Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

'Ganesh mandals': Stepping stone for budding politicians to become leaders

During the British rule, social reformer Lokmanya Tilak initiated public celebration of Ganesh festival to bring people together and foster a sense of unity, but over the years, apart from fulfilling these objectives, Ganesh mandals have also been serving as grooming ground for budding politicians. Through the "sarvajanik" (public) Ganesh mandals, the future leaders can get to master different key skills like managing finances, human resources management and establishing coordination between various agencies, says Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS). The Ganesh festival is celebrated across Maharashtra on a large scale. This year, this 10-day cultural extravaganza will begin on September 7. There are several political leaders in Maharashtra who earlier worked as humble "karyakartas" (volunteers) of Ganesh mandals before making a foray into the world of politics. Talking to PTI, Dahibavkar said that NCP leader and Maharasht

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Wishes and greetings to share with loved ones

Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed on September 7 this year. Greet your loved ones with significant and motivating quotes, messages, and wishes on Ganesh Chaturthi to make the celebration more special

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Places to visit for Ganpati celebrations in India

The 10-day festival known as Ganeshotsav or Ganesh Chaturthi is marked by the installation of Ganesha's clay idols in homes or pandals for community celebrations

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Why is the festival celebrated for 10 days?

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is celebrated across the country for 10 days. Here's all you need to know about this auspicious Hindu festival

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: 5 decoration ideas for your home and temple

Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated on September 7 this year. The 10-day festival will be observed with enthusiasm and joy across the country

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Importance of using eco-friendly Ganesh idols

There are several environmental benefits of celebrating eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi. Here are some reasons why one should use eco-friendly idols

MSRTC employees launch state-wide strike; 35 of 250 bus depots shut

Ahead of the Ganesh festival, the bus services of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) got disrupted on Tuesday in most parts of Maharashtra, as a large section of its employees launched a strike over salary-related and other demands, officials said. Due to the strike launched by the action committee of 11 trade unions starting midnight, the bus services of the state-run corporation were completely stopped at 35 out of the MSRTC's 250 bus depots across the state, a spokesperson of the corporation said. "Other depots are either fully or partially operational," he said. The strike will create problems for the people who wish to travel to their native places for the 10-day Ganesh festival, which is celebrated on a large scale in the state. The Maharashtra State Transport (ST) Kamgar Sanyukta Kruti Samiti (joint action committee) began this strike over salary-related issues of employees, after talks with the state government failed last month. The action committee

Thane civic body launches mobile vehicle units for Ganesh idol immersion

In a bid to enhance convenience and reduce crowding during Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, the Thane Municipal Corporation has decided to introduce mobile vehicles fitted with water tanks for facilitating the immersion of Lord Ganesh's idols. This initiative by TMC commissioner Saurabh Rao aims to provide a more accessible and streamlined immersion experience for residents, as per an official statement. The new mobile vehicle units will travel to various localities, allowing citizens to immerse the idols after performing religious rituals, eliminating the need to visit crowded immersion spots. The ten-day Ganesh festival, which commences on September 7, sees the consecration of idols in homes and public places across Maharashtra. Six vehicles will be operated on the key immersion days: September 8, 12, and 14. Each mobile unit is fitted with a water tank where devotees can perform the immersion before the idol's remnants are transferred to designated artificial lakes and other immers

Bombay HC likely to ban use of PoP idols for Ganesh Chaturthi festival

The bench also criticised the civic body of Mumbai for its inability to enforce a ban on PoP idol production, despite the Central Pollution Control Board issuing clear guidelines against its use since

As India prepares for festivals, insurers have celebrations covered

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Police bans DJs during Ganesh puja celebrations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack

The police have banned use of disc jockeys (DJ) during Ganesh Puja celebrations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Ganesh puja will be celebrated on September 7 Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said this after holding a meeting with the puja organizers in Cuttack. Similarly, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh held another such meeting here on Sunday. In both meetings, the organizers have been asked not to use DJ music during the puja including idol immersion processions. The idol immersion ceremony in Cuttack is scheduled for September 15, 22 and 29. The Puja committees have been asked to seek prior permission from the local police station seven days before, he said. Similarly, the puja committees in Bhubaneswar will hold the immersion processions on September 8, 11 and 15, said DCP Singh. The Ganesh puja committees have been asked not to play DJ music and install CCTVs in their pandals, he said, adding, "We have directed them to use traditional musical instruments instead of DJs during

More than 39,000 idols immersed in Mumbai as 10-day Ganesh festival ends

More than 39,000 Ganesh idols were immersed in Mumbai on Friday as the 10-day festival of the elephant-headed god came to an end, civic officials said. Over ten days, a total of 2,05,722 idols were immersed in water bodies including artificial ponds across Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Friday evening. Of these idols, immersed after one-and-half, third, fifth, seventh and tenth day, 76,709 idols including 72,204 household idols were immersed in artificial ponds set up in all 24 civic wards in the metropolis. The BMC release also highlighted that this year 1,904 Ganapati Mandal's preferred artificial ponds for immersion of their Sarvajanik (Public) Ganapati. While there are 69 natural water bodies available for immersion, the BMC provided 200 artificial ponds too, and collected around 500 tons of 'Nirmalya' or floral waste that will be used for making organic fertilizer for the public gardens maintained by the civic body, the release said. The ...

37,599 Ganesh idols immersed by 3 am on Fri as festival drew to close: BMC

As the 10-day-long Ganeshotsav drew to a close on Thursday, thousands of idols of the elephant-headed god were immersed in water bodies, including artificial ponds, in Mumbai in the presence of a sea of devotees. The city's famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol, whose procession started at 11.30 am on Thursday, was immersed around 9.15 am on Friday, said officials. More than 37,599 idols were immersed across the city till 3 am on Friday, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A 16-year-old boy drowned in the sea off the Juhu beach on Thursday evening. Amid the beating of drums and chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya', various Ganesh mandals in the city started processions on Thursday to immerse the idols of the deity, marking the culmination of the 10-day festival. The procession of the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh idol started at 11.30 am and it was immersed in the sea off the Girgaum Chowpatty around 9.15 am on Friday, said officials. Of the 37,599 idols immersed until 3 am on Fr

Over 80,000 idols immersed in Mumbai on fifth day of Ganesh festivities

More than 80,000 idols were immersed between Saturday, which was the fifth day of Ganesh festivities, and the early hours of Sunday in Mumbai, a civic official said. As per a release from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 80,969 idols were immersed till 3am on Sunday, comprising 1,410 'sarvajanik' or public idols, 71,821 household ones and 7,738 Gauri Ganesh idols. Of these, 32,509 idols were immersed in artificial waterbodies, comprising 581 public idols, 29,620 household ones and 2,308 Gauri Ganesh idols, it said. The immersions took place in Girgaum, Dadar, Juhu, Marve and Aksa beaches and 73 natural spots as well as 191 artificial ponds created by the civic body. In a statement, Mumbai police said 2,094 officials, 11083 constables, 32 platoons of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Quick Response Team (QRT), Rapid Action Force and Home Guards have been deployed in the city in view of festivities. It said no untoward incident was reported through the day during immersion.

A first since 2007: Sensex's yield gap with 10-yr US bond turns negative

The Sensex had an earnings yield of 4.11 per cent on Friday against 4.47 per cent yield on 10-year US government bonds

Lalbaugcha Raja gets donations over Rs 1 cr in 2 days of Ganesh Chaturthi

Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal received donations of over Rs one crore in two days of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal received donations worth over sixty lakh on the second day of the festival. According to the Mandal, it received over 60,62,000 on the second day taking the total to over 1,02,62,000 in two days of the festival.Lord Ganpati idol has also received an offering of 183.480 grams of gold and 622 grams of silver as a donation. Compared to the first day, the second day received more donations in cash.Earlier on Wednesday, Sudhir Salvi, the Secretary of Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal lauded industrialist Mukesh Ambani's youngest son Anant Ambani for his support towards the Lalbaug committee's activities."Today the dialysis centre of Lalbaugcha Raja is getting started, it has 24 machines which were given by Anant Ambani and along with that we have a blood donation camp as well to help every patient. There is a lot of support

Over 66,700 Ganesh idols immersed till Thursday; no untoward incident: BMC

More than 66,700 Ganesh idols were immersed in various water bodies in Mumbai till Thursday morning, civic officials said. The immersion of idols has gone smoothly so far without any untoward incident, they said. As part of the 10-day-long Ganeshotsav, dedicated to the elephant-headed god, idols of the deity are usually immersed after one and a half days, five days, seven days and ten days or as per family traditions. According to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a total of 66,785 one-and-a-half-day Ganapati idols were immersed in the sea and other water bodies, including artificial ponds, till 6 am on Thursday. The idols were taken out and immersed amid chants of Ganapati Bappa Morya, the beating of drums, music and dance. Of the immersion figures so far, BMC officials said, 66,435 were household Ganapati idols, while 350 were sarvajanik, or community, idols. They said 27,736 idols were immersed in artificial ponds, set up to avoid pollution of natural

Immersion of Ganapati idols begins in Mumbai; 196 till noon, say officials

On the second day of the 10-day Ganesh festival, several devotees in Mumbai bid farewell to the idols of their favourite deity after worshipping them for one and a half days. People took out processions of idols with devotion and enthusiasm, with many devotees dancing their way to the sites of immersion. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 195 household Ganapati idols and one sarvajanik (community) Ganapati idols were immersed in the sea and other water bodies, including artificial ponds. As many as 50 Ganpati idols were immersed in artificial ponds that have been created specifically to reduce water pollution, the BMC said. No untoward incident was reported anywhere during immersion so far on Wednesday, officials said. The BMC has earmarked 69 natural water bodies, including stretches off the coast, and set up 191 artificial ponds for immersion this year. The 10-day Ganeshotsav began in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday, with the installation of

Ganesha idol shimmers with 69 kg gold and 336 kg silver ornaments in Mumbai

The idol is situated at the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Seva Mandal in Matunga, Mumbai and is said to be worth over Rs 300 crore, and made of Panchdhatu, a combination of five precious metals

Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Date, muhurat, history, importance of Ganeshotsav

Ganesh Chaturthi is a major Hindu celebration dedicated to Lord Ganesha with extraordinary devotion across India. It is the celebration of a birth of God Ganesha, lord of wisdom and fortune