Ganesh mandals say have only talked of online darshan, but people still land up at pandals
People celebrate at a pandal at Khetwadi, on Sunday. Pic/Bipin Kokate
The mandals in the city have been spreading the word on social media platforms about online darshan of Bappa, but, they said, if devotees still turn up at their gates during the festival, they won’t turn them away. “How can we stop devotees if they come to the pandal? Turning them back is the job of the police, not ours,” various popular mandals told mid-day on Monday.
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Several mandals said that they cannot stop devotees from visiting the pandals to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha, as that might hurt their sentiments.
With temples in the city currently shut owing to the Covid-19 restrictions, there are many who are waiting for their dearest Bappa to arrive. The sight of various public places — jam-packed with people marketing and throwing caution to the wind — shows the mood of the citizens is to celebrate the festival with zest.
However, this could hurt the city, as experts have warned that the festivities without precautions could trigger the third outbreak of novel Coronavirus.
Mumbai cha Raja visarjan in an artificial pond at Ganesh galli last year. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Moreover, despite officials reiterating that only online darshan has to be allowed this year, many popular mandals have decided to allow people at pandals.
Mumbai's popular Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal did not celebrate the festival last year, but has made arrangements for ‘mukh-darshan’ (viewing of the idol from a distance) this time around. At a meeting on Monday, the city police told the mandal to not allow physical ‘mukh-darshan’.
During the pre-Covid-19 era, Lalbaugcha Raja mandal would organise two queues — one for ‘mukh-darshan’ and another for feet-darshan (for devotees to touch the idol's feet) which won't happen this year.
The mandal representatives said they will follow whatever guidelines the government and the local administration announce, but they won't stand at the gate to turn away the devotees. That's the police's job, they added.
Sudhir Salvi, the secretary of the mandal, said, “We have made arrangements for the queue for ‘mukh-darshan’, but at the same time we are appealing to the citizens to take darshan online. However, in case devotees queue up [outside the pandal], we have asked police to handle the situation, as we cannot ask them to leave.”
Swapnil Parab of Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal (Ganesh Gully), another popular mandal in the city, said, “We are publicising through our social media platforms to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha through our website. We are hoping that citizens will listen to our appeal and prefer the online darshan.”
The mandal, however, has distributed about 3,500 identity cards to the local residents for a visit to the pandal. They are the regular monetary contributors of the mandal. Parab said, “These are the same residents who were allowed even last year.”
A civic official said, “While the mood last year was of fear and worry and the festival was celebrated at a low scale, this year, citizens seem to be in the mood for celebration. Last year, despite strict restrictions, the peak of Covid-19 was noticed after Ganeshotsav. This year, there is a warning of a third wave hitting the city around the same time. It is important that the citizens follow the Covid-appropriate behaviour.”
3,500
No. of ID cards issued by Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal for physical darshan
10 sept
Day Ganeshotsav begins this year
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