Ganesh festival 2020: Pune police urges mandals to avoid grand celebrations amid COVID-19

The number of coronavirus cases in Pune are rapidly increasing as the civic administration struggles to contain the spread. 

With a view to curb the spread of the virus, the Pune joint police commissioner Ravindra Shivse has urged the mandals of the city to avoid grand celebrations for the upcoming Ganpati festival. This year the Ganpati festival will start from August 22

The officer made the appeal during a meeting held by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday, along with the mandal representatives.

“The Ganpati celebration should not be held in a grand way amid the rise in Covid-19 positive cases. Recently, our old Wari tradition and even the Eid celebrations were cancelled amid the pandemic,” said Shivse.

“I appeal to all the mandals in the city to celebrate the ten-day Ganpati festival in their mandal temple itself and not involve in setting up huge decorations and programmes,” he said. During the meeting Pune city mayor Murlidhar Mohol, PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar, other PMC and police officials were also present.

Ajay Paithankar, president, Jaydeep Ganpati mandal, Guruwar peth said, “We are aware of the current Covid-19 situation so the celebrations will be low-key this year, but small mandals should get financial support from PMC to conduct traditional and simple ritual.”

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said, “Ganpati festival is always celebrated in a grand manner in Pune, but this year due to COVID-19 situation it will be different. We have already taken a couple of meetings with the mandal representatives and it is decided that there will be no immersion procession this year. No new permissions will be given to Ganpati mandals.”

The mayor appealed to citizens conduct the immersion of Ganpati idols in their mandal or the home itself. The sodium bicarbonate will be provided to all the Punekars at ward office level,” he said.