Mumbai: Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal has announced that it will celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in the traditional way this year while adhering to all COVID19 related guidelines and restrictions.
Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the most popular and most visited Ganesh idols in Mumbai and it is widely known for fulfilling the wishes of the devotees.
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Last year, Lalbaughcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal for the first very time did not hold any festivities in view of the pandemic. Instead, the Mandal organised a blood and plasma donation camp.
The Maharashtra government had earlier issued guidelines to restrict the height of the Ganesha idols to up to four feet.
The height for the idols in public celebrations has been restricted to four feet while for homes it has been limited to two feet.
Amid the pandemic situation, the Maharashtra government has urged people to carry out festivities by following COVID protocols and avoid crowding.
The Ganeshotsav Mandals were also directed to seek prior permission from the local administration.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival that starts on the fourth day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month Bhadrapada. It will begin on September 10 this year.
In pre-pandemic days, it was famously celebrated with much fanfare in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra with lakhs of devotees converging into mandals to seek blessing from Lord Ganesh.
COVID Situation In Maharashtra
Having Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations while ensuring adherence to the COVID norms can prove to be a tough challenge as there are fears of daily infections rising again amid the festive season.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Saturday reported 6,959 cases and 225 fresh COVID-19 fatalities while 7,467 patients recovered,
With the new additions, the tally of infections in Maharashtra reached 63,03,715 and the death toll to 1,32,791. The count of recoveries now stands at 60,90,786, leaving the state with 76,755 active cases, a health official said.
On Saturday, Maharashtra witnessed a marginal rise in fresh coronavirus positive cases compared to Thursday when the state had added 6,600 new cases to its tally and 231 fatalities.
Among 76,755 active patients in Maharashtra, Pune district has recorded the highest with 15,674 such cases.
(With Agency Inputs)