On Monday, February 15, people across Mumbai celebrated the festival of Lord Ganesh’s birth or Maghi Ganeshotsav. Every year, Ganesh Jayanti or Maghi sees idols installed for one to 10 days, like regular Ganeshotsav.
In the wake of COVID-19, the celebrations have been subdued The state government guidelines for the festival too were late. It was only on February 9 that the mandals had made plans similar to previous festivals since 2020.
Aside from mandals, which regularly install idols this time of year, some mainstream mandals which could not organise Bhadrapad Ganeshotsav 2020 amid COVID-19 lockdown are also planning short celebrations.
The Dombivali Cha Icchapurti Mandal, which installed a 22 feet moorti last year, will host a midget four feet idol this season in keeping with state COVID-19 guidelines.
GSB mandal of Ram Mandir, Wadala, which had rescheduled last year's festivities to Maghi 2021, kept a small idol for today, February 15 along with maintaining COVID-19 restrictions such as no prasad was distributed. Besides, Visarjan was also held on the premises only.
The chairman of the temple trust and secretary of Ganeshotsav Samiti stated that the celebration this year was low-key and in limited form, keeping in view the pandemic and statutory compliances. Pujas will be streamed online. There will be no public darshan nor any booking for pujas, havan or annadana seva will be allowed. As per state government instructions, there will be no prasad distribution.
The number of households and mandals which celebrate Maghi saw a rise this year as they seek to make up for cancellation of Ganeshotsav last August-September, said the Chairman, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti.
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