Ponda mandals to curtail Ganesh festival this year

PONDA: On the backdrop of Covid pandemic for a second consecutive year, Ganesh celebration by Sarvajanik Ganeshotav Mandals in Ponda will also be a low-key affair.
The three Ganesh Mandals in the town will restrict the celebration for one and half day instead of the normal 11-day festival.
Sadar Ponda Kranti Maidan celebration has been curtailed to one and half day from last year.
“The Committee has decided to celebrate the festival in a simple manner this year also,” said Dilip Dopeshwarkar, president of the Sadar Ponda Kranti Maidan Ganeshotav Mandal. Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed on September 10.
The Ganesh Festival is celebrated every year at Kranti Maidan Premises located in front of Ponda Police Station with participation of thousands of people every year. However, this time the Committee decided not to celebrate it in public but instead observe it at the hall of the building behind Saraswati Temple Tisk Ponda by following all the Covid-19 guidelines. Most of cultural programmes and competitions will not be held, said a member of the committee.
“The Zareshwar Sarvajanik Ganeshotav Mandal normally celebrates the festival for nine days at the Ponda Bus Stand, but will cut it down to only one and half day,” said president Santosh Naik.
Similarly at Upper Bazaar the Budhwar Peth Ganeshotav Mandal has curtailed the celebration for a day and a half, instead of eleven days,” said President Shankar Naik.
There are around 35 Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals in Ponda Taluka and majority are likely to have only one and half day celebration.
Ganesh celebrations in the villages, however, will be depending on every household restricting it to one and half day, five days or seven days depending on the wish of the family.