Start Immersion Procession at 7:30 AM; Demand by Pune City Ganeshotsav Committee

Pune | “The immersion procession on all routes including Laxmi Road should begin at 7:30 AM,” demanded various Ganesh mandals through the Pune City Ganeshotsav Committee on Monday. Discussions will be held with the prestigious (Manache) Ganpati mandals regarding this demand. If the main procession is to begin at the usual time, then other mandals should be permitted to start their procession from Laxmi Road, as per the decision taken by the mandals to submit this request to the administration.

The meeting organized by the Pune City Ganeshotsav Committee was attended by Convenor Sanjay Balgude, senior leader Shrikant Shirole, Ankush Kakade, senior activist of Nimbalkar Talim Mandal Suresh Pawar, Hatthi Ganpati Mandal President Shyam Mankar, Sakhalipir Talim Rashtriya Maruti Mandir President Ravindra Malvadkar, Bharat Mitra Mandal’s Balasaheb Dabhekar, Garud Ganpati Mandal’s Sunil Kunjir, Seva Mitra Mandal’s Shirish Mohite, Uday Mahale, Narendra Vyavahare, Manish Salunke, Ajay Darade, Vinayak Dharane, along with office bearers of various Ganesh mandals. Balgude presented the context of the meeting in the opening remarks.

“If the decision is made to start the immersion procession at 7 AM, we are ready to participate with one troupe,” said Kunal Girmkar, President of Bal Vikas Mandal. “We must find a solution without conflict. Plasma speakers, which can cause hearing damage to many, must not be allowed,” said Mohite. He also demanded, “The prestigious Ganpati mandals should be given limits on the number of troupes and the time.”

“Ganesh mandals have been defamed because of the immersion processions. Of the 300 mandals that go via Laxmi Road, 8 mandals took 10 hours — this analysis must be presented to the administration. The dhol-tasha troupes performing on Laxmi Road do not charge fees, while other mandals must pay hefty amounts,” Mankar pointed out.

Malvadkar said, “Pothole filling, electric lighting — these are the responsibilities of the municipal corporation. Funds for these should not be used from the state festival grant. If contractors and middlemen are being benefitted, there should be strong opposition. The grant should benefit the actual mandal workers.”

“We do not support mandals playing DJs. Politics should not be allowed to enter Ganeshotsav. Political leaders should be invited for darshan in the afternoon. If they come in the evening, it causes traffic jams and inconvenience to the public,” said Kakade.

“Not all mandals should insist on going via Laxmi Road. A 30–35 hour-long immersion procession is a waste of time. Areas that were earlier rural have now become urban under the municipal corporation, and they host better festivals than us. The original purpose of public awareness must be upheld. Let eight Ganpati mandals go via Laxmi Road. If the city has grown, then new routes must be introduced,” highlighted Shrikant Shirole.