HYDERABAD: Ganesh festivities will be held across the city on Saturday, albeit with certain restrictions on the pandals and number of devotees being allowed. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, many organizers of Ganesh Chaturthi have decided to install smaller idols and have transitioned to virtual darshans, pujas and celebrations.
Keeping in view the pandemic, the Marathi community in the city, for the first time in many years, has decided not set up huge Ganesh pandals.
“We will be installing smaller idols this time and only priests and core committee members will be allowed to attend the pujas. For other devotees, these pujas will be streamed online,” said Saroj Gharipurikar, member of the governing council of the Maharashtra Mandal in the city.
The mandal has also decided to conduct cultural programmes such as musical events, speeches on Bal Gangadhar Tilak marking his 100th death anniversary on August 1. Smaller idols were the cynosure of all eyes considering that the government urged people to celebrate the festival at home. “Usually, ever year, we get a four to six feet idol for our house. But this time, since we are not sure of what will be the protocol in place for Visarjan, we decided to install a much smaller idol that can be submerged in a bucket,” said Vidith Naik, a resident of Kondapur.
To avoid crowding in market areas, many individuals, NGOs and resident welfare associations held contactless clay distribution within their premises. “I distributed 15 clay Ganesha planters to my colleagues. It was an attempt to send a message on environment consciousness . In a way, I also helped the local artisans,” said Meena Ravindran, deputy chief executive at Nuclear Fuel Complex. Members of PraHari Trust Organization distributed 1,000 clay idols at apartments in twin cities.
Keeping in view the pandemic, the Marathi community in the city, for the first time in many years, has decided not set up huge Ganesh pandals.
“We will be installing smaller idols this time and only priests and core committee members will be allowed to attend the pujas. For other devotees, these pujas will be streamed online,” said Saroj Gharipurikar, member of the governing council of the Maharashtra Mandal in the city.
The mandal has also decided to conduct cultural programmes such as musical events, speeches on Bal Gangadhar Tilak marking his 100th death anniversary on August 1. Smaller idols were the cynosure of all eyes considering that the government urged people to celebrate the festival at home. “Usually, ever year, we get a four to six feet idol for our house. But this time, since we are not sure of what will be the protocol in place for Visarjan, we decided to install a much smaller idol that can be submerged in a bucket,” said Vidith Naik, a resident of Kondapur.
To avoid crowding in market areas, many individuals, NGOs and resident welfare associations held contactless clay distribution within their premises. “I distributed 15 clay Ganesha planters to my colleagues. It was an attempt to send a message on environment consciousness . In a way, I also helped the local artisans,” said Meena Ravindran, deputy chief executive at Nuclear Fuel Complex. Members of PraHari Trust Organization distributed 1,000 clay idols at apartments in twin cities.
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