Prominent Ponda mandals decide to curtail Ganesh celebration

NT NETWORK

Ponda/Vasco

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Sarvajanik Ganesh utsav mandals from Ponda have decided to curtail the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration to one-and-a-half day, while all the programmes held during the occasion have been cancelled by most of the mandals from Ponda.

Considering the COVID-19 situation in the state, Ganesh utsav mandals have decided to perform only rituals related to the Ganesh Chaturthi in a low-key manner and that too for only one and a half days, Budhwarpeth sarvajanik mandal president Narayan Naik said, while speaking to this daily, after holding a committee meeting on Wednesday.

Naik also informed that all other festivities scheduled during the occasion have been called off by the mandal and even tirth prasad and mahaprasad have been cancelled. While the size of the Ganesh idol to be installed will be 3 feet, while usually it is 10 to 12 feet. Sarvajanik Ganesh ustav mandals from Sadar-Ponda (near police station) and Zareshwar (old bus stand) too have taken decisions to curtail the celebrations.

Sadar-Ponda mandal secretary Jayant Adpaikar stated that in view of the prevailing situation, the mandal has decided to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in the mandal’s hall at Tisk-Ponda rather than at Kranti Maidan.

Zareshwar sarvajanik Ganesh ustav mandal president Pradeep Naik informed that the mandal will celebrate the Chaturthi at the old bus stand only, but it will be for limited people. “Secondly, the celebration will be restricted to Ganesh pooja and related rituals only. All other festivities have been cancelled by the committee,” Naik said. 

Meanwhile, the temple committee of Shree Ganesh Sankhalya Saunsthan, Cortalim has unanimously decided to curtail 11 days Ganesh celebration to one-and-a-half day.

In a press statement, the general secretary of SGSS-Cortalim Devendra Kenkre disclosed that during the celebration, the temple committee will take all necessary precautions. The auctioning of the items offered to the Ganesh idol will be cancelled this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the alarming rise in COVID cases, SGSS general secretary Kenkre has urged the people to avoid crowding at the temple premises. The offerings will be received at the temple gate, he said.