Ganesh idols receive finishing touches as Ludhiana gears up for mega celebration

Ludhiana: The city residents are all set to welcome one of their most adored gods — Ganesh — into their homes on Monday for the next 10 days.
Some city-based organizations too have made grand plans to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. Venues where huge idols of the god will be installed and worshipped will be decked up in myriad hues.
An organizers from Baba Ganpati Sewa Sangh, Money Bedi, said like every year, jubilant and grand celebrations will mark the god’s birth. He said from Monday morning, people will start coming for prayers and seek the lord’s blessings. “This time, our idol of Ganesh will resemble Shiva’s (father of Ganesh). We wanted to come up with a different concept and hope that the devotees will like it,” he said.
Usha Sharma, a Haibowal resident, over the 10 days of celebration, there will be lighting, festive spirit and happiness all around. She said in a small radius of around 500 metres, Ganpati Mahotsav is celebrated at three places and she likes to visit them all. Earlier, she said, it used to be restricted in Maharashtra, but now the celebrations take place in almost every city of Punjab.
Another resident of Kitchlu Nagar, Jyoti Gaba, said she likes to bring Ganpati home for 10 days and the entire family prays for happiness and prosperity in life. She said Ganesh is her favourite and all projects, from small to big, begin with worshipping him and seeking his blessings.
“After staying home for 10 days, the lord will leave with the promise of returning again next year,” she said.
The city became a hotspot for hustle bustle during the day as residents were thronging the markets to get Ganesh idols for their households or community gatherings in their localities. The artists who made the idols were busy giving finishing touches to their creations. To prevent the idols from rain, some shopkeepers had put them under cover.
Ganesh Mahostav is being celebrated with full enthusiasm at Janakpuri, Giaspura, Dugri, Chandigarh Road, Haibowal, Kitchlu Nagar, Civil Lines and many other places.
Meanwhile, among the residents who install Ganesh idols at their residences, some keep them for one and half days, while others do it for ten days. The festival will continue till September 10 and the idols will be immersed on September 11.