Ganpati samiti mandals are predicting a rise of 30% in households hosting Bappa for five days over last yearhttps://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ganpati-festival-ganpati-samiti-mandals-brihanmumbai-sarvajanik-ganeshotsav-samanvay-samiti-3019362/
Ganpati samiti mandals are predicting a rise of 30% in households hosting Bappa for five days over last year
Almost 2,40,000 Ganpatis idols would be immersed at major points, including Shivaji Park, Juhu and Girgaum Chowpatty in the coming days.
Written by Neha Kulkarni | Published: September 8, 2016 3:01:55 am
The Samiti is predicting the figure to cross 2 lakh by the end of five days. (Source: Express Phot by Prashant Nadkar)
Going by the number of immersions after 1.5 days of Ganeshotsav, Ganpati samiti mandals are predicting a rise of 30% in the number of households hosting Bappa for five days this year. On Tuesday, Girgaum chowpatty alone saw 6,000 immersions, up from 4,000 last year. Across the city, around 45,000 idols were immersed, of which only 111 were from Sarvajanik mandals and the rest were from households, said Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti members.
The Samiti is predicting the figure to cross 2 lakh by the end of five days.
Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Samiti, said: "From around 1,86,000 Ganpatis last year, there could be an increase of 30% at the end of five days of the Ganpati festival.
This means that almost 2,40,000 Ganpatis idols would be immersed at major points, including Shivaji Park, Juhu and Girgaum Chowpatty in the coming days. With Gauri aagman on the sixth day, the number is likely to go up. The exact figures will come only by Saturday."
A spurt in the number of individuals buying new homes or holding 'navas' (thanking God for wish fulfillment) could be the reasons for the rise, Dahibavkar said.
"With a rise in the general standard of living, more people are invite Ganpati to their homes. Many new couples do this as a part navas or because they have bought new homes. The tradition of only one person in a joint family hosting Ganpati is slowly fading off," he added.
"We have been hosting Ganpati since the past 16 years at our home. I started doing it at my home after my brother-in-law passed away. I believe this is a tradition that must be taught to our future generations," said Seema Nadkarni, a resident of Chembur.
For Rajni Singh, inviting Bappa is a mark of thanks for her new home. "I bought a new home this year at Goregaon and wanted to commemorate it. We started with hosting Ganpati for 1.5 days this year and are sure to continue it. It is a way of thanking the Lord for all the good in our life," said Singh.
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