Celebrate Ganesh festival as ‘Arogya Utsav’ this year: Mayor
   Date :08-Jul-2020

Mayor Sandip Joshi _1&nbs
 Mayor Sandip Joshi chairing review meet of NMC officials for the forthcoming Ganesh Utsav.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Mayor Sandip Joshi appealed to community Ganesh Utsav mandals in city to observe this year festival as ‘Arogya Utsav’. Against backdrop of rising cases of novel coronavirus which is nearing 2,000 in city alone, he said the 10-day festival starting from August 22 should focus on overall health of citizens. Given the ground situation that is not very good, community groups can ensure a simple celebrations shunning extravaganza since large gathering are not going to be allowed and State Government is likely to come out with guidelines in that regards. But, now it is duty of every individual to make a resolve and celebrate it as ‘Arogya Utsav’, Joshi said on Tuesday.
 
A review for 10-day festival was held at Central Office of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) by Mayor on Tuesday. Mayor said they are expecting detailed specifications from State Government by July 20. However since NMC is entrusted responsibility of combating COVID-19 outbreak, precautions are of utmost importance. Citizens should avoid community celebrations this year as this would tend to attract large gathering that is not recommended or permissible in present circumstances.
 
The Sarvajanik Mandal can undertake health awareness camps in their respective areas with special focus on COVID-19 providing tips and ways to built immunity. Mayor said as per appeal of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in city also all the mandals should ensure that idols of Lord Ganesh should not be more than four feet in height. Also while holding celebrations the gathering should be limited to 50 persons only. At all public places strict compliance of social distancing should be followed and everyone should wear mask at public places.
 
Hands should be frequently sanitised and procession are to avoided while bring or immersing the idol. Extra precautions would need to be taken while welcoming Vighnaharta, one who combats all the evil, this year and people too should avoid crowing to pay obeisance to the Lord of Wisdom. Mayor said it is responsibility of Nagpurians to ensure that situation on COVID-19 front does not spiral out of control and undo the gains that city as a whole has achieved by limiting the spread of the infection.
 
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayor Manisha Kothe, Vijay Zalke, Chairperson, Standing Committee, Sandeep Jadhav, Ruling Party Leader, Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition, Virendra Kukreja, Chairperson, Health Committee, Divya Dhurde, Whip, Prakash Bhoyar, Amar Bagde, Lata Kadgaye, Samita Chakole, Vandana Yangatwar, Abhiruchi Rajgire, Gargi Chopra, all Chairperson of NMC Zones, Sunil Agrawal, senior corporator, Ram Joshi and Sanjay Nipane, both Additional Commissioners, Dr Pradeep Dasarwar, Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, along with Assistant Commissioners of all ten zones.