PONDA: The Vanarmare community are all set to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi for 11 days this year in attempt to fulfil their vow they had made during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community had decided to celebrate the festival with much grandeur for 11 days and had prayed that Lord Ganesha protect them from the deadly corona virus.
The community was supposed to celebrate Chaturthi for 11 days last year but decided not to do so after one of the senior members fell seriously ill and they had to immerse the idol only after worshipping one-and- a half day.
Meanwhile, the community is still away from the mainstream of society and do not have all the basic facilities. Ahead of the festival, they’ve been given temporary electricity connection only for a month. Electricity poles have been erected near their huts but they are yet to be given power connections. The people have also completed all the paperwork and formalities for the same.
“The government needs to give us permanent electricity connections at the earliest as there are children who go to school and are unable to study at night,” said Dipak Nikam,one of the locals.
“We are preparing for the festival in full zeal and enthusiasm. The idol of Lord Ganesh will be brought specially from Kolhapur this year,” said community head Gopal Pawar.
