Over 3,000 Ganesha idols to be installed in pandals

Kanpur: Devotees are ready to welcome Lord Ganesha as more than 5,000 idols of 'Vighnaharta' (Remover of obstacles) would be installed in the city on Monday. As per tradition, Lord Ganesha's idol is installed on the fourth day of 'Bhadon' month.
According to Vishwabandhu Bajpai, advocate, who is also an astrologer, as per Hindu custom, Monday is a day of Lord Shiva, who is the father of Ganesha. "It is a rare and great occasion that both 'Chaturthi' (fourth day) and Monday are falling on the same day”, he said. Worship of father Shiva would definitely please Ganesha, he added. Most of the devotees bring idols of Ganesha on Sunday for installing them at their houses, but those who install huge idols in pandals, bring the deity with drum beats and recitation of 'Ganesh Stuti', said a local. According to sources, more than 3000 idols would be installed in pandals. The administration has made arrangements at community halls where a large number of devotees would assemble to offer prayers. The district administration officials have got dug ponds at nine places in the city for immersion of Ganesh idols, the source added. The immersion would start from fourth day after installation of the idol. Community halls and pandals are being decorated for installing Ganesha idols. "The devotees should keep themselves 'shuddha' at the place of worship and not use any impious articles in decoration", Bajpai advised. He said the installation of Ganesha idol and later its immersion is a tradition of Maharashtra was started in Kanpur by some families of Bithoor. An old Maharashtrian and former office-bearer of Maharashtra Mandal, Haribhau Khandekra, said, the biggest function used to be held at Maharashtra Mandal in Khalasi Line where Maharashtrians from all corners of the city had gathered to offer prayers, he added.