GANESH Chaturthi is being celebrated with immense enthusiasm and religious fervour across India, particularly in Maharashtra, on Monday, as devotees welcomed beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha into their homes and public pandals to mark the beginning of the 10-day festival. Across cities, elaborate decorations, illuminated pandals, devotional rituals and cultural programmes have added to the festive atmosphere, with devotees offering prayers, flowers, sweets and other traditional offerings to Lord Ganesha.

 

The celebrations will culminate in Anant Chaturdashi on September 25, when devotees traditionally bid farewell to the deity through immersion processions. In Pune, the arrival ceremony of Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, regarded as Hindustan’s first public Ganpati, began amid the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha and witnessed the participation of a large number of devotees. In Mumbai, dazzling lights and elaborate decorations have given a festive appearance to several prominent Ganesh pandals and temples, including Lalbaugcha Raja at Lalbaug, Tejukaya Mandal in Lalbaug, Ganesh Gully in Lalbaug, GSB Seva Mandal at Matunga-Kings’ Circle, Andheri-cha-Raja, Shri Bal Gopal Ganesh Utsav Mandal at Marine Lines, Kethwadi 11th Lane, Kethwadi 12th Lane, GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Samiti in Wadala, Sahyadri Mandal in Tilak Nagar-Chembur, and Fort Vibhag Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Mandal in Fort. 

 

 

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday extended greetings on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and prayed to Lord Ganesha for the removal of obstacles and challenges faced by the country, state, citizens and farmers. Fadnavis and his wife, Amruta Fadnavis, welcomed Lord Ganesha at their official residence, ‘Varsha’. Speaking to the media, CM Fadnavis said, “My best wishes to all devotees of Lord Ganesha across the world on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and the Ganesh festival. I pray to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, to take away everyone’s suffering and remove all obstacles,” Fadnavis said. “I pray that the remover of obstacles blesses us with the ability, strength and power to overcome all the challenges facing our country, our state, our citizens and our farmers,” he added. The wife of Chief Minister, Amruta Fadnavis, said that Lord Ganesha has been welcomed across Maharashtra with great enthusiasm as the state celebrates the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.