The 10-day Ganesh festival which is usually celebrated with pomp
and vigour, started in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Saturday with
minimal celebrations. The coronavirus pandemic has affected the celebration of
the enthusiasm rich festival this year.

The Maharashtra government has issued guidelines and
restrictions to be followed while celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi this year. It
says that processions should not be taken out before installing and immersing
the idols of the deity.

The guidelines also mention that the height of the Ganesh idols installed
by sarvajanik (community) mandals and at household- level should be limited to
four feet and two feet, respectively, this year.

Due to the subdued celebrations, small businesses of that thrive
during the festival, like flower vendors, sweet shops, outlets selling
decoration items, immitation jewellery, transporters took a hit. The pandemic
also affected several others, including artistes and transporters.

However, in some popular market places like Dadar in central
Mumbai, people still came out in large numbers to purchase material required
for decoration, puja rituals in the last couple of days.

Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai’s best-known sarvajanik Ganeshotsav
mandal, cancelled the festival this year in view of the pandemic, while
Wadala’s GSB Sewa Samiti, considered one of the richest mandals in the
metropolis, postponed the celebration to ‘Magh Shudh Chaturthi’ in February
next year.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also welcomed Lord Ganesh at his
official residence ‘Varsha’. Some celebrities and political leaders also
installed the idols at their places.

The installation of the deity was done as per the rituals in the
morning.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the city for the
festival. Apart from the local police, a company of Rapid Action Force (RAF),
three companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), local arms and riot
control police have been deployed.