No towering idols this Ganesha festival

Vadodara: Cynosure of every Ganesha festival, the towering idols of Ganapati will be significantly missed this time in the city.
A number of Ganesha pandal organizers have decided to install smaller idols this time owing to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be for the first time in decades that idols as small as two-feet would be installed in big Ganesha pandals.
Even the city police have suggested smaller idols in some pandals that are popular among the devotees.
“Usually our pandal has an idol 18 to 20-feet high. But this time we have decided to install a two-feet high idol and also scale down celebrations amid the Covid fears. The idea is to deter people from thronging at the pandals,” said Nailesh Brahmbhatt, chairman of Manmohan Yuvak Mandal and Charitable Trust in Manjalpur. The 32-year-old mandal has been installing a fibre Ganesha idol for the past so many years.
One of the oldest Ganesha pandals in the city, known for installing towering Ganesha idols, the Pratap Marghani Pol Yuvak Mandal too has decided to reduce the size of its idol this year. “We will break away from our tradition this time. It will bring down the expenses and also ensure no crowding of devotees,” said Jay Thakore.
Nearly a dozen big pandals in the city have decided to abide by the government orders. The police have also asked idol makers to refrain from making any big idols.
The idol makers too haven’t made any big Ganesha idol yet. “We haven’t got orders to make high idols this time and I think most pandals will install smaller idols only,” said Ghanshyam Kahar, who makes some of the big Ganesha idols in the city.
“Considering the spread of Covid-19, any large gathering has to be avoided. We have suggested pandal organizers not to install big idols. The government directions are expected in next couple of days,” said K G Bhaati, joint police commissioner.