News Analysis India

Tag: ganesh chaturthi

  • Police seize ‘provocative’ decoration material on Shiv Sena split at Kalyan Ganesh pandal

    By PTI

    THANE: Police on Wednesday seized “objectionable and provocative” decoration material related to a recent split in Shiv Sena at a Ganesh pandal in Kalyan city in Thane district of Maharashtra, an official said.

    The seizure included the cutouts put out as the decoration display for the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival which began on Wednesday.

    Vijay Tarun Mandal president Vijay Salvi said the action by the police was unwarranted and amounted to “autocracy”.

    Later, a group of Shiv Sainiks including local leaders and office-bearers performed a “maha aarti” against the police action.

    “Every year we display various topics at our pandal and this year’s theme was the split in Shiv Sena. The police action is ‘Hitlersahi’,” he alleged and added that the Mandal will not celebrate the Ganesh festival this year as a mark of protest.

    The Mandal has been celebrating the festival for the last 58 years.

    He claimed the organisers had shown the decorative display to the police earlier and even made certain changes as directed.

    A Kalyan police officer said the Vijay Tarun Mandal had indulged in such provocative and objectionable decorations in the past also.

    A case has been registered against officials of the Vijay Tarun Mandal.

    Senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs had rebelled against the party leadership in June, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    Shinde became the chief minister on June 30 with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    THANE: Police on Wednesday seized “objectionable and provocative” decoration material related to a recent split in Shiv Sena at a Ganesh pandal in Kalyan city in Thane district of Maharashtra, an official said.

    The seizure included the cutouts put out as the decoration display for the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival which began on Wednesday.

    Vijay Tarun Mandal president Vijay Salvi said the action by the police was unwarranted and amounted to “autocracy”.

    Later, a group of Shiv Sainiks including local leaders and office-bearers performed a “maha aarti” against the police action.

    “Every year we display various topics at our pandal and this year’s theme was the split in Shiv Sena. The police action is ‘Hitlersahi’,” he alleged and added that the Mandal will not celebrate the Ganesh festival this year as a mark of protest.

    The Mandal has been celebrating the festival for the last 58 years.

    He claimed the organisers had shown the decorative display to the police earlier and even made certain changes as directed.

    A Kalyan police officer said the Vijay Tarun Mandal had indulged in such provocative and objectionable decorations in the past also.

    A case has been registered against officials of the Vijay Tarun Mandal.

    Senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs had rebelled against the party leadership in June, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    Shinde became the chief minister on June 30 with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

  • Ganesh Chaturthi: Communal clash breaks out in Gujarat

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: On Monday, at least 13 people were detained after a communal clash erupted in Vadodara during a Ganesh Chaturthi procession. Stone-pelting broke out when a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through Panigate Darwaza. No one was injured. An FIR was registered against members of both sides on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

    Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in Banaskantha district on Monday after complainant Rajesh Solanki, the brother of Haresh who belongs to Malgadh village in Deesa taluka, said he consumed poison on Saturday. Haresh was hospitalised in Palanpur in a critical condition. He was allegedly depressed after five persons “brainwashed” his wife, Chandrika, to get converted to Islam and moved a petition before the court in her name, seeking permission to live separately.

    The accused allegedly pressured Haresh to either convert or pay Rs 25 lakh for getting reunited with his family. “A case has been registered against five members of the Sheikh family,” sub-inspector BG Suthar said. Earlier in the week, an FIR was registered on Friday after a woman told the police that her son had died by suicide after being force-fed beef by his live-in partner and her brother.

    Rohit Singh had killed himself in Surat on June 27 after posting a suicide note on Facebook, which was brought to the notice of his illiterate family only recently. According to the FIR, Singh, a resident of Udhna area, hanged himself using a dupatta. After this, a complaint was lodged against Sonam Ali and her brother Mukhtar Zakir Ali. “We detained Sonam Ali from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday,” J.T. Sonara, ACP-B Div Surat, said.

    Fir lodgedStone-pelting broke out when a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through Panigate Darwaza. No one was injured. An FIR was registered against members of both sides on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

    AHMEDABAD: On Monday, at least 13 people were detained after a communal clash erupted in Vadodara during a Ganesh Chaturthi procession. Stone-pelting broke out when a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through Panigate Darwaza. No one was injured. An FIR was registered against members of both sides on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

    Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in Banaskantha district on Monday after complainant Rajesh Solanki, the brother of Haresh who belongs to Malgadh village in Deesa taluka, said he consumed poison on Saturday. Haresh was hospitalised in Palanpur in a critical condition. He was allegedly depressed after five persons “brainwashed” his wife, Chandrika, to get converted to Islam and moved a petition before the court in her name, seeking permission to live separately.

    The accused allegedly pressured Haresh to either convert or pay Rs 25 lakh for getting reunited with his family. “A case has been registered against five members of the Sheikh family,” sub-inspector BG Suthar said. Earlier in the week, an FIR was registered on Friday after a woman told the police that her son had died by suicide after being force-fed beef by his live-in partner and her brother.

    Rohit Singh had killed himself in Surat on June 27 after posting a suicide note on Facebook, which was brought to the notice of his illiterate family only recently. According to the FIR, Singh, a resident of Udhna area, hanged himself using a dupatta. After this, a complaint was lodged against Sonam Ali and her brother Mukhtar Zakir Ali. “We detained Sonam Ali from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday,” J.T. Sonara, ACP-B Div Surat, said.

    Fir lodged
    Stone-pelting broke out when a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through Panigate Darwaza. No one was injured. An FIR was registered against members of both sides on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

  • Two Idgah grounds: Ganesh festival on at Hubballi, not in Bengaluru

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Two petitions opposing permission to hold Ganesh Chaturthi festival at two Idgah grounds in Karnataka drew two different rulings on Tuesday. While the Supreme Court disallowed the use of the Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru’s Chamarajpet for the Ganesh festival, the Karnataka High Court in a late night sitting refused to stay the municipality permission to the Vinakaya event in Hubballi.

    A Supreme Court bench of justices Indira Banerjee, A S Oka and M M Sundresh asked both the parties Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, Central Muslim Association of Karnataka and the state of Karnataka to maintain status quo. “Maintain status quo for some days. You can hold your pooja somewhere else,” Justice Indira Banerjee said.

    “200 years, whatever was not held, so maintain the status quo. 200 years it has not been done. No Ganesh festival on this land,” Justice Oka added. Earlier in the day, since a two-judge bench of justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia was divided on the matter, it referred the case to Chief Justice of India U U Lalit. The CJI constituted the three-judge bench after senior advocate Dushyant Dave made an urgent mention, saying if the matter is not heard on Tueday itself, status quo of 200 years there will be disturbed.

    The Hubballi case was heard by HC judge Ashok S Kinagi at 10 pm. In his interim order, he said the Chamarajpet and Hubbali cases were dissimilar, as the former was a title suit, while the latter plot belonged to the Dharwad municipality. Besides, the Hubballi land was not covered under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, he added.

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Two petitions opposing permission to hold Ganesh Chaturthi festival at two Idgah grounds in Karnataka drew two different rulings on Tuesday. While the Supreme Court disallowed the use of the Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru’s Chamarajpet for the Ganesh festival, the Karnataka High Court in a late night sitting refused to stay the municipality permission to the Vinakaya event in Hubballi.

    A Supreme Court bench of justices Indira Banerjee, A S Oka and M M Sundresh asked both the parties Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, Central Muslim Association of Karnataka and the state of Karnataka to maintain status quo. “Maintain status quo for some days. You can hold your pooja somewhere else,” Justice Indira Banerjee said.

    “200 years, whatever was not held, so maintain the status quo. 200 years it has not been done. No Ganesh festival on this land,” Justice Oka added. Earlier in the day, since a two-judge bench of justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia was divided on the matter, it referred the case to Chief Justice of India U U Lalit. The CJI constituted the three-judge bench after senior advocate Dushyant Dave made an urgent mention, saying if the matter is not heard on Tueday itself, status quo of 200 years there will be disturbed.

    The Hubballi case was heard by HC judge Ashok S Kinagi at 10 pm. In his interim order, he said the Chamarajpet and Hubbali cases were dissimilar, as the former was a title suit, while the latter plot belonged to the Dharwad municipality. Besides, the Hubballi land was not covered under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, he added.

  • With chocolate idols, bakers aim to raise awareness on celebrating eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi

    By ANI

    INDORE: For Ganesh Chaturthi, people have come up with creative eco-friendly ideas to prepare sweets to celebrate the festival in honour of the god who is said to relish sweets, especially modaks.

    Indore-based Nidhi Sharma who has been fashioning idols of Lord Ganesha from chocolate for the last three years has continued with the tradition this year too. Another artist from Ludhiana, Harjinder Singh Kukreja has also been using Belgian chocolate to make Ganeshas in his Ludhiana-based shop and he says that with this he aims to spread awareness about celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly manner.

    Sharma always picks a theme for making the idols. Last year while the theme was coronavirus, this time she has focussed on vaccinations while making the chocolate Ganeshas.

    To make her idols, she pours chocolate into a mould that is shaped like Lord Ganesha.

    “I have been making Lord Ganesha idols for three years. Last time, I made an idol based on the theme of the Covid-19 pandemic. This time around, the aim is to raise awareness among people about Covid-19 vaccination, which is extremely important for everyone right now,” Nidhi said.

    She added, “To depict this theme, I have put two syringes representing two doses of vaccine in a ‘modak’ made out of chocolate. The message is that at this point, the vaccines are God’s prasad. I have also got a mouse, which is wearing a mask. It highlights the importance of wearing a mask irrespective of one’s vaccination status. I have also depicted a Lord Ganesha seated on a Covid-19 vaccine bottle.”

    With these messages, she said she aims to do their bit in raising awareness about the Covid-19 vaccination and preventing the third wave of the pandemic by encouraging people to get themselves vaccinated without any hesitation.

    Ludhiana-based Kukreja says that with his chocolate Ganesha idols, he aims to send a message to people, that festivals can be celebrated in eco-friendly ways. These chocolate Ganesha idols are immersed in milk.

    He has tied up with the Robin Hood Army, a non-profit organization, to distribute the chocolate milkshake to children from low-income families living in slums.

    “I have been making these Chocolate Ganesha idols for the last six years. My aim is to tell people that festivals can be celebrated in an eco-friendly way. Another aim is to connect children with the festivals and culture of our country. They are immersed in milk and the chocolate milkshake is distributed to children from low-income families living in slums as a part of my tie-up with an organization,” Kukreja told ANI.

    In 2016, Kukreja got in contact with a sculptor who worked with chefs to make idols. Now, these idols are made by the in house chefs of the shop. 200 kgs of Belgian Dark Chocolate is used in making an idol by 10 skilled chefs over 10 days.

    “It is not an easy task. We do a lot of planning and thinking over the structure of the idol for one and a half months. The last 10 days have been really hectic for us. If anything breaks or is out of place, the team has to start all over again. But when you are passionate about something, even the challenges become fun,” he added.

    With his chocolate Ganesha, he aims to connect the children with the festivals and culture of India. He also wants to go for a world record related to chocolate Ganesha idols.

    “We would like to go for a national and an international record for the Chocolate Ganesha idol,” Kukreja said.

    His chocolate Ganesha idols have got a great response from the customers.

    A customer named Soniya said, “I have seen chocolate Ganesha for the first time. It is a good initiative. It is eco friendly. It can be given to kids in form of chocolate milkshake after immersion.”

    “I have seen Chocolate Ganesha for the first time, it is really good and something new. Kids love chocolate a lot. So these idols will make them aware of the festival,” said another customer named Bhupendra from Bihar.

    “This year, I have got a couple from Delhi who will come here to witness and worship this idol. I am also well-known in Mumbai for my chocolate Ganesha, even the celebrities know me. I am known in many parts of the world because of my chocolate Ganesha and I am honoured to be associated with God in such a way,” said Kukreja.  

  • Ganesh Chaturthi begins under Covid cloud for second year in Maharashtra; ‘darshan’ goes online

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Devotees welcomed Lord Ganesh in their homes and public pandals on Friday as the 10-day festival dedicated to the elephant-headed God began in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra with focus on online ‘darshan’ amid the coronavirus pandemic and looming threat of a third wave.

    For the second straight year, the pandemic cast a long shadow on festivities with the Maharashtra government placing a slew of restrictions to avoid gathering and processions.

    The Maharashtra government has banned physical ‘darshan’ of Lord Ganesh at community pandals (marquees) and said only online ‘darshan’ or telecast from pandals would be allowed.

    ​ALSO READ | High Court refuses to entertain plea against Delhi govt’s move to organise Ganesh Chaturthi 

    Citing the COVID-19 situation, the Mumbai police have imposed orders under CrPC section 144 prohibiting assembly of five or more persons during the Ganesh festival between September 10 to 19.

    No processions of any kind would be allowed in Mumbai during this period and devotees would not be allowed to visit Ganesh pandals either, an official statement said on Thursday.

    People can have `darshan’ of Ganesh idols installed in pandals through the online mode or through other electronic media (such as TV), it said.

    The Maharashtra home department has issued a circular banning visits to pandals so as to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

    Also, the height Lord Ganesh idols to be installed has been restricted.

    In Mumbai, there are around 12,000 sarvajanik (community) mandals and nearly two lakh homes where idols of the deity are installed.

    ​ALSO READ | Andhra Pradesh High Court disallows Ganesh festivities at public places

    The usual pomp was missing since processions have been banned.

    Lord Ganesh made a quiet entry into the homes of his devotees.

    Naresh Dahibavkar, president, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, told PTI that compared to last year, when 90 per cent of the mandals had celebrated the festival in view of the coronavirus outbreak, this year all of them are installing idols of the deity.

    The samiti is an umbrella body of Ganesh mandals that coordinates the festival between the BMC and government agencies.

    Last year, Lalbaghcha Raja, Mumbai’s most famous mandal, had cancelled the celebration, while Wadala’s GSB Sewa Samiti, another well-known mandal, had postponed the celebration to Magh Shudh charturthi in February this year.

    “The festival will be celebrated with usual fervour and gaiety unlike last year as the COVID-19 vaccination drive is going on and there is awareness among people about the pandemic,” Dahibavkar said.

    ​ALSO READ | Congress wants rule on height of Ganesha idols scrapped

    “In view of the third wave threat, all government protocols for COVID-19- appropriate behaviour are being observed,” he said.

    Dahibavkar criticised the government for banning physical darshan.

    “This has been done at the last minute. The stake-holders were not consulted. Physical darshan was banned last year too. We will suffer heavy losses since there will be no devotees to see the banners and posters of our sponsors,” he said.

    Livelihood of people associated with the festival, which generates a turnover of Rs 70 crore to Rs 100 crore (in Mumbai), will continue to be impacted due to the pandemic, Dahibavkar said.

    He said Ganesh mandals have contributed to the state government’s efforts to provide relief to people in flood-affected Konkan region and have also been doing social activities.

    “The government should have considered our problems too,” he said, adding, “The mandals have contributed Rs 40 lakh towards flood relief,” he said.

    The state government has issued an order to ban physical darshan at mandals and said not more than ten people (who have to be fully vaccinated) would be allowed to bring the idol which should not be more than 4 feet in height (at marquees).

    ​ALSO READ | Gone in five minutes: Vinayaka idols made by convicts a hit as Puducherry rings in prison reforms

    Home idols should not be more than two feet in height and only 5 people (fully vaccinated) will be allowed to accompany the idol.

    The administration has put restrictions during immersion of idols as well.

    In the last two days, markets were overcrowded with people making purchases to welcome the elephant-headed God, raising concerns about the lack of physical distancing.

    The GSB Sewa Mandal, which installs the idol for five days at Kings Circle in Mumbai, said this year’s celebrations will be simple.

    It said during the last one year, the mandal has distributed food to relatives of patients in government hospitals and was in the forefront of relief and rehabilitation efforts during Konkan floods in July.

    “We will celebrate the festival religiously like every year but without any devotee visiting the pandal as per government guidelines,” the GSB Sewa Mandal said in a statement.

    Live darshan will be on the mandal’s social media platform, it said.

    Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray welcomed Lord Ganesh at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai.

    Several celebrities and political leaders also installed the deity at their homes.

    The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, marks the birth of the elephant-headed God.

    It is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).

    Lord Ganesh is considered an embodiment of wisdom and widely revered as the remover of obstacles.

  • President Kovind, PM Modi extend Ganesh Chaturthi greetings to people

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings to people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

    “Ganpati Bappa Morya! Warm wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. I wish that Vighnaharta Ganesha makes our efforts against COVID-19 successful and blesses everyone with happiness and peace. Come, let us all be COVID-friendly while celebrating the festival,” the President tweeted in hindi.

    Prime Minister Modi also extended greetings on the occasion.

    ​ALSO READ | Gone in five minutes: Vinayaka idols made by convicts a hit as Puducherry rings in prison reforms

    “Wishing you all a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi. May this auspicious occasion bring happiness, peace, good fortune and health in everyone’s life. Ganpati Bappa Morya!” the Prime Minister tweeted.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah shared his greetings tweeting, “Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all the countrymen.”

    Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day festival that starts on the fourth day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, will start on September 10 this year.

    It is celebrated with much fanfare with lakhs of devotees converging into pandals to seek blessing from Lord Ganesh.

    However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, the pandals might witness lesser crowds.

  • COVID-19: Centre advises states to curb mass gatherings in view of upcoming festivals

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: In view of upcoming festivals, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to all states to actively consider the imposition of local restrictions to curb mass gatherings.

    Bhushan said that some states still reflect signs of an upsurge in their daily cases and positivity.

    The letter read, “At the outset, let me appreciate your continued leadership and guidance to curb the spread of Covid cases in the country during the second wave of COVID19. Even though the trajectory of daily new cases has shown a steady decline over the last month, there are a few States which still reflect signs of upsurge in their daily cases and positivity,”

    “In this regard, directions issued under Disaster Management Act by MHA vide letter dated June 29, for focussed containment measures may kindly be referred to,” it read.

    “In light of this Order, and in view of upcoming festivals, such as Muharram 19th August), Onam (21st August), Janmashtami (30th August), Ganesh Chaturthi (10th Sep.) and Durga Puja (5th – 15th October 2021) etc, where large public gatherings are expected, it is advised that States may actively consider imposition of local restrictions in public observation of these festivals and curb mass gatherings,” Bhushan added in the letter.

    It added, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have expressed concern regarding the potential of mass gathering events during festivals turning into super spreader events, thereby leading to a spike in Covid cases. This was earlier communicated to the States vide letter dated 20th July 2021 of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    India on Wednesday reported 42,625 new COVID-19 cases, 36,668 recoveries and 562 deaths in 24 hours, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    An increase of 12,076 cases was recorded in the daily infections since Tuesday when 30,549 new cases were reported.

    With this, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has reached 3,17,69,132 including 3,09,33,022 discharges and 4,25,757 deaths.

    The number of active cases has gone up to 4,10,353, accounting for 1.29 per cent of the total number of cases. 

  • Ganesh Chaturthi amid COVID-19: Idol height capped between 2-4 feet in Maharashtra

    By PTI
    PUNE: Authorities in Maharashtra on Tuesday asked those organising Ganesh festivities to keep the height of public idols at four feet and the domestic ones at two feet, and to celebrate in a simple manner amid the coronavirus outbreak.

    The festivity, among the most awaited in the state, is scheduled to begin on September 10, but like last year, much of it will be subdued due to the coronavirus outbreak and resultant restrictions set in place by the government, officials in Pune added.

    The guidelines issued by the government also make it mandatory for Ganesh Utsav mandals to take permission from local authorities.

    “The idols of public Ganesh mandals should be four feet in height and the domestic ones must not be above two feet.

    People should ideally install metal or marble idols, while those made of shadoo clay must be immersed at home or in artificial tanks.

    Installation and immersion processions must strictly adhere to COVID-19 norms of masks and social distancing, while display of advertisements and other items that could attract a crowd must be avoided,” an official said quoting the guidelines.

    The guildelines advised mandals to hold hold blood donation and social awareness camps, and avoid bhajan-kirtan and other mass programmes at the festivity site.

    “The restrictions imposed to contain the outbreak will remain in force and no relaxation will be given during Ganesh Utsav.

    Mandals should also try to ensure darshan can be obtained by devotees through online mode,” the official said.

    Mahesh Suryawanshi, a trustee of the famous Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple here, said mandals would ensure that festivities take place by adhering to COVID-19 norms, but added that the local administration must be allowed to implement rules as per the outbreak situation in the area.

  • Starting order and fasting festivals

    Shukla party will start after the new moon of the month of Bhadon. With this, the sequence of festivals will also start. In the Bhadrapad Shukl party there are frequent and fast dates for fasting. Worship will start with the green Teal. Some day worship of Akhand good luck and wish fulfillment will be wished if good fortune is born. September 12, Haratalika Teej has been fasting for 11 days in fourteen days.
    Ganesh Chaturthi of the Bhadrapad month is inhibition of Chandra Darshan. Whereas, the worship of the moon in the other chaptoli is completed. Fourth of the month should try that the moon should not be seen. It is believed that people who visit the moon have to be stigmatized.
    According to the astrologers, Savand, like the Kartik, is a good month for the festive month worship. There are such dates in the series of vows that come once a year. Those who keep the fast keep waiting for these dates. In the Rishi Panchami, the women perform puja for purification of the year. On the occasion of Moryayi Chhath, the maura is immersed in law. On September 25, the father-daughter full of bathing charity will start. After that the worship of Sharde Navaratri will start. This time nine days of Navratri is. On October 19 is the Dussehra festival.
    Fourteen days will be 11 days Fast and worship
    There are many important dates and festivals in September. In the Bhadrapad Shukl party there are frequent and fast dates for fasting. Worship will start with the green Teal. On the 12th of the month of September, Ganat Chaturdashi, 13, Ganesh Chaturdashi, 14 Rishis Panchami, 15 Morayi Chhath, 16 to Satna Saptami, 17 Radha Ashtami, 20 Dol Gairas, 22 Pradosaha Fast, 23 to Anant Chaturdashi, 24 to Poornima Poornima and Shan donation will be full moon 25.