Pune: No Ganesh immersion procession this year, immerse idols at home, says Mayor

Pune, July 22, 2020: This year, Sarvajanik (public) Ganeshotsav mandals should not hold a procession for Ganesh immersion on the backdrop of Coronavirus pandemic, appealed Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol. He said that mandals should immerse the idol in the place of the mandap itself. Also, this year, no new Ganesh mandals will be given permissions, and only the mandals that got permission last year will be allowed to set up pandals this time.

Ganeshotsav will be celebrated next month. A meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Mohol to discuss different aspects. The meeting was attended by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) House Leader Dheeraj Ghate, Standing Committee Chairman Hemant Rasne, Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar and leaders of all parties in the Municipal Corporation.

Rasne said, “It was decided at the meeting not to issue licenses to any new mandal this year. The already existing mandals don’t have to apply for a new permit to PMC as their last year’s permission will be considered valid.”

Mohol said, “Mandal’s idol should be four feet high as per government guideline. Mandals should immerse the idol in the premises of the pandal itself, and people should immerse their idols at home. No decision has yet been taken about stalls for the sale of Ganesh idols.”