The Hindu Business Line : A social makeover for Ganesh Chathurthi festival?

THE PROTECTOR: This 28-foot-tall Ganesh idol at Nere Park, Parel has jasmine flowers carved on its body and is shown rising from a coconut. - Shashi Ashiwal

Pune , Sept. 17

PREPARATIONS that have been going on for the past two months for Ganesh Chathurthi would end with all the pandals showcasing their creative talent. The 10-day festival starts tomorrow.

In 1893, a Hindu-Muslim riot broke out in Pune and to defuse the situation leaders decided that the best way to resolve the exploding situation was to channelise this energy into a procession filled with fun and gaiety. This procession was taken on Anant Chaturdashi, which falls on the 10th day after the Vinayaka Chathurthi, which is celebrated in the South. Bal Gangadhar Tilak applauded this feat and the next year witnessed about 100 Ganapatis making their way, which slowly increased. And, this year there are about 3,500 Ganapatis in Pune..

This festival signed the pact for the Hindu-Muslim unity. As the numbers increased, there was a debate on which of the Ganapatis would lead the procession. The Kasbapeth Ganapati, established in 1893 was chosen to be the leader and the second was the Tambdi Jogheshwari, which Tilak started and is always placed on a silver palanquin, resembling the African elephants. Next to take its place was the Guruji Talim Ganapati, and Tulshibaug Ganapati, which is the first idol made of fibreglass, took the fourth place. The Kesariwada Ganapati established in 1893 by Tilak rounds up at the fifth position.

The numbering system is followed to this day as the procession taken out on Anant Chaturdashi starts with the Kasbapeth Ganapati leading the way. These five Ganapatis are called as Manache Ganapati and have special troupes accompanying them, which include horses, children dressed in traditional attire and students playing the dhol-tasha (huge drums beaten by sticks ).

Chathurthi comes and goes but this year it would be a little different as a section of people has come forward to ensure that the neighbourhood is not disturbed with the loud music that usually accompanies such festivals. Three mandals out of the 3,500 have earmarked some funds for social causes rather than spending the entire amount on frivolous entertainment. Akhra Maruti Chowk mandal, AkhilBudhwar Peth mandal and the Navgraha mandal are the three mandals to have set aside funds.Akhil Budhwar Peth mandal has set aside Rs 50,000 which would be used for buying bags of foodgrains that would be distributed to the underprivileged, while Akhra Maruti Chowk has gone a step further and decided to sponsor 50 mentally challenged children from Kamayani School and also provide textbooks for students in the MukhaBadheer Ashram Shala situated in Wagholi near Pune. So far about 200 students have benefited through this effort. Plans are to continue the same for the next academic year also. Navgraha Mandal has decided to move away from Bollywood songs and play kirtans and bhajans of Meenatai Mahagaonkar of Nipani, while ensuring that the decibel level is kept to the minimum.

The decibel sound that has been agreed upon is 75db in the industrial area, which would be reduced to 70db during the night; 65db to 55db in the commercial area; and 55db to 47db in the residential area.

These are not the only instances where the festival is undergoing a makeover. Many mandals have also decided to go green this time with the usual plaster of paris with chemical colours making way to clay models with natural colours. And to keep the environmentalists happy, a huge immersion tank has also been constructed as otherwise these idols find their way to the Mutha River for immersion.

"Ganapatibappa moriya, pudhcha varshi lowkar ya'' (Ganapati bappa come early next year) is the chant that is going to reverberate in Pune for the next 10 days.