For 2nd year, state caps height of Ganesh idols

Nagpur: With three months still to go for Ganesh festival, the Maharashtra government has put restrictions on the height of idols for the second consecutive year.
In a notification issued on Tuesday, the state home department has asked all local civic bodies to ensure height of idols at Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals are restricted to 4ft and 2ft for households.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation may replicate the order and issue similar rules for the city.
However, Ganesh mandals and sculptors said height restrictions have nothing to do with the spread of coronavirus. Former MLC Prakash Gajbhiye and founder of Ekta Ganesh Mandal, which is credited with installing the highest idol, said the government should reconsider the restrictions for Sarvajanik mandals.
According to him, Covid-19 cases were already declining and while the government was advocating virtual darshan, then it should allow at least 10ft-high idols in Sarvajanik pandals.
Echoing Gajbhiye, city sculptor from Chitar Oli Narendra Chauriya too demanded to keep the height of idols to at least 10ft. He, however, admitted that this year the state government’s notification came early unlike previous years. “This will help in keeping us prepared for the festival in September,” he said.
He was quick to point out about his family’s traditional business of making Ganesh idols from mud and the height restrictions will adversely affect his business. “Only big idols are mostly being made of mud and the new rule will benefit PoP idol makers,” he said.
Deputy secretary (home department) Sanjay Khedekar said amid Covid-19 cases and the anticipated third wave, the local bodies should ensure that Ganeshotsav is celebrated in a simple manner. As per the government notification order, local bodies should ensure all Sarvajanik Mandals should take permission for organizing Ganeshotsav.
This year too, the state’s home department has asked the local bodies to promote immersion of idols in artificial tanks.
Advertisements of mandals should be avoided to curtail rush. Instead of cultural events, the government has urged the organisers to hold health programmes like blood donation camps and awareness programmes for dengue, malaria, and coronavirus among others.
It has also urged them (local bodies) to ensure that all organisers and individuals follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.
It has asked them to arrange online darshan of mandals through social networking sites, local cable networks etc. Similarly, it directed to ensure no rush during aarti, bhajan, kirtan and other religious programmes.