Ganesh Chaturthi being celebrated with religious fervour in Maharashtra

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Aug 25: The 12-day 'Ganesh Chaturthi' festival is being celebrated in the Marathwada region with enthusiasm and religious fervour. After seven long years, this year festival period is 12-days long instead of 10 or 11 days. The festival began with the joyful devotees buying lord Ganesha idols from special markets for installation at their homes well as Ganesh mandals premises by chanting 'Ganpathi Bappa Moraya' and ‘Aala Re Aala Ganpati Aala’. Heavy rush was witnessed in city markets areas and Hudco Cidco localities on this occasion with people purchasing idols and pooja materials since morning. Huge and long pandals and stages have been erected on various streets by the Ganesh mandals in the entire region, according to the Ganesh Mahsangh sources. In Aurangabad, the festival began with the 'Mahararthi' at the traditional 91-year-old tradition Sansthan Ganesh Temple situated at old city area Shaganj, also known as 'Gramdaivat'. The Sanstan also organised several programmes, including health camps, Daily Bhandara (free meals for all), awareness campaign, blood donation camps and Dipostav during the twelve days, according to the Sanstan Ganpati sources. The apex body of the Ganesh Mandals in the city 'Shri Ganesh Mahasangh Ustav Samiti' is celebrating the festival on a grand Scale and has organised several programmes, including cultural programmes and competitions to encourage local talent. Various programmes, including rangoli competitions, cleanliness drive, tree plantation, distribution of books and notebooks to needy students, sword competition, wrestling and street shows and folks relating awareness of cleanness are being organised during the festival period, Ustav Samithi president Raju Shinde said. Meanwhile, security has been strengthened by appointing special police officers from public to help local police to maintain peace, law and order situation to check anti-social elements and avert any untoward incident, police sources said. However, several social organisations have came forward and created awareness about eco-friendly Ganesh idols during the festival to keeping balance of environments. UNI