Mohan Bhagwat performs Lord Ganesh puja at famous Dagdusheth pandal in Pune

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Tuesday performed special puja at the famous Dagdusheth Ganapati pandal in Maharashtrarsquos Pune on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi the first day of the tenday festivalThe theme of this years decoration at the pandal is the replica of the underconstruction Ram Mandir of AyodyaPTI reported that Bhagwat performed pran pratishta auspicious installation of Lord Ganeshs idol at the Dagdusheth temple where the pandal is erectedEarlier in the day a procession of all five manache revered Ganapati Kasba Tambdi Jogeshwari Guruji Talim Tulshibag and Kesari Wada was taken out with fanfare in the cityPolice personnel are deployed to ensure that no untoward incident happens during the festival PTI SPKMeanwhile the countryrsquos financial capital Mumbai is steeped in devotion to welcome the annual homecoming of Lord Ganesh as the 10day festival began on Tuesday amid fanfare and gaietyIdols in various shapes and sizes were installed at several households and in pandals against the backdrop of elaborate decorations based on myriad themes ranging from the Chandrayaan3 launch to Ayodhyas Ram MandirFamilies including children as well as senior citizens stepped out of their homes early morning to bring their beloved bappa home amid chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya and the beating of drumsMany people were seen carrying the idols of Lord Ganesh in autorickshaws cars and other modes of transportAlso read Cryptocurrency boom fuels rise in cybercrime What you need to knowSeveral politicians and celebrities from Bollywood install idols of the deity of wisdom and knowledge in their homes every yearWhile many famous Ganeshas are installed in pandals in the early morning hours in Mumbai including the most famous Lalbaugcha Raja many idols were being taken out from workshops to the pandals in processionsPeople will be allowed to take darshan of the deity at pandals after the puja is performed as per the muhurat an organiser saidA total of 2729 sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals have been permitted to organise public Ganesh festivities by erecting pandals the city civic body said on MondayTo maintain security during the festival that sees lakhs of people visiting pandals in ten days more than 13750 police personnel have been deployed in the city an official saidThey comprise 11726 constables 2024 officers from the rank of subinspector to the assistant commissioner and 15 deputy commissioners he said on MondayNotifications issued by the traffic police listed several moves for a smooth flow of vehicles in the metropolis including a ban on heavy vehicles on certain daysImmersion day September 28 will see a larger presence of police on the ground and manpower details being chalked out the official informedGanesh festivities are the most patronised in Mumbai with idols of Lord Ganesh being installed in pandals and at homesMumbaikars have been thronging the popular shopping spots of the city at Dadar Crawford Market and Lohar Chawl to buy decor items flowers and puja materials among other festival paraphernaliaPeople are in for a visual treat this year as the citys Ganesh mandals have come up with fascinating thematic decorations for their pandalsPandalhoppers will get to see themes of the Chandrayaan3 launch Ayodhya Ram Temple and the 350th anniversary of the coronation of warriorking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj showcased by big mandals or pandals in the cityA large number of devotees are expected to visit Lalbaug in central Mumbai to catch a glimpse of Lalbaugcha Raja one of the most celebrated Ganeshas of the city followed by GSB Seva Mandals Ganpati in Matunga which is considered the richest and known for its grandeurThe GSB Seva Mandals Mahaganpati will this year be resplendent in 665 kilograms of gold ornaments more than 295 kgs of silver as well as other precious itemsOther famous Ganesh mandals are in Chinchpokli Ganesh Gully and TejukayaApart from these people will also get to see the citys tallest Ganesha at 45 feet in the Khetwadi area of GirgaumA BMC release said a special cleanliness drive was undertaken in Mumbai on Sunday as a part of the Union governments Indian Cleanliness League 20 an intercity cleanliness competition PTI