Pune: Ganesh Mandals Gear Up for State-Level Recognition and Prizes, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Urges Active Participation
Pune, 28th August 2023: The State Cultural Affairs Department will honor the outstanding Ganesh Mandals and encourage their participation in the contest. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has urged more and more committees to participate actively in this competition.
In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister, and Guardian Minister of Pune District, Chandrakant Patil, a meeting to review the preparedness ahead of upcoming Ganesh Festival was held at the police headquarters in Shivajinagar. The meeting was attended by MLA Madhuri Misal, Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Police Commissioner Reetesh Kumaar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Maha Metro’s Managing Director Shrawan Hardikar, District Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, and others.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawar stated that Ganesh Mandals should also be skilled in avoiding traffic congestion during the processions. Metro administration should consider extending metro services till late at night during the festival period. There should be no compromise on the height of the Ganesh idols, but pollution should not occur during their immersion, and the sanctity of the festival should be preserved. The collection of Ganesh idols should not burden people’s sentiments, and attention should be paid even in this regard.
Genesh Mandals from from the Dhankawadi area were praised for initiating collective immersion processions in the meeting and the officials appealed other Mandals to also follow the same. Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations should take immediate steps to close shops on the immersion route. Any potholes on the immersion procession route should be repaired before the festival. If a one-way traffic route is feasible for controlling traffic congestion, it should be implemented. Everyone, including Ganesh devotees, should contribute to creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere and address their problems through administration. Pune’s Ganesh Festival is a state festival, and everyone should cooperate in understanding this while participating in it, Deputy Chief Minister emphasized.
The Municipal administration should coordinate with Ganesh Mandals to address their issues. Through controlled administration, attention should be given to planning and coordination. Efforts should be made to train police volunteers and receive their assistance. The mandals should formulate their own regulations and collaborate with the administration. Similarly, everyone should cooperate to ensure a calm festival, Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil said.
Police Commissioner Reetesh Kumaar mentioned that arrangements for traffic regulation, parking management, CCTV cameras are being made. A WhatsApp group will be formed for Ganesh Festival. A strict watch will be kept on noise pollution during the festival. The road closures for the festival should be well-planned to avoid any inconvenience, he noted.
This year, the district administration has relaxed the noise rules for sound amplification for Ganesh Festival on September 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28 until midnight, the District Collector provided this information in the meeting.
Additional Police Commissioner Ramnath Pokale mentioned that last year, 3,566 Ganesh Festival committees were registered. Similarly, this year, a significant number of committees are expected to celebrate Ganesh Festival, he disclosed.
For this year’s Ganesh Festival, the selection and recommendation committee will select ten Ganesh Mandals based on ten different parameters. A total of 150 marks are given for 10 parameters. The committees will be evaluated on environmental-friendly idols, decorations, pollution-free atmosphere, social awareness display, decoration etc.
Three Ganesh Mandals from Pune will be recommended to the state government for the contest. Those who win first award will be rewarded with Rs 5 Lakh price, while those runner ups will be rewarded with Rs 2.5 Lakh and Rs 1 Lakh consequently, said officials. Apart from three winners, the state government will also reward other Ganesh Mandals participating in the contest with Rs 25,000 reward and a certificate of participation.
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