In a significant move aimed at providing relief to the Ganesh mandals in Maharashtra, it has been decided that these mandals will now only need to obtain permission once every five years, an official statement said on Thursday.

The decision was taken during a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, offering respite to the outstanding Ganeshotsav mandals that have consistently adhered to regulations and received no complaints over the past decade. This change in policy allows these mandals to better plan for their upcoming festivals, the statement said.