| Candidates for BMC elections seek divine blessings
A number of candidates bring home Ganesha during the Maghi Ganapati festival. With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election just round the corner, the political parties have geared up their campaigns, wooing the public to garner votes. However, some candidates seem to have become religious before the elections. As the city celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha today, scores of Mumbaikars have brought the idol of the elephant god to their homes. Since last three months, around 50-60 sculptors around the Lalbaug, Parel and Kalachowkie locality have been working round the clock, making idols for ‘Maghi Ganapati’ festival. According to the sculptors, many BMC candidates have ordered idols this year. “Earlier, the sale of the Ganesh idol used to soar only during the ten-day Ganeshostav festival. Moreover, only the general public used to bring the Ganesh idol during time of the year. However this year, the sales have increased with more and more candidates for the BMC elections are buying the idol to their home for worship,” said sculptor Sanjay Bhagwe, who has his workshop in Lalbaug. Another famous sculptor in the city, Rajan Zaad said that only few people know about this festival unlike the ten-day Ganesh festival. However, the ‘Ganeshostav’ is very famous as it was started by Lokmanya Tilak. The sales of Ganesh idols are brisk as compared to that of last year. This year some politicians too have brought idols for this festival.” Parel’s famous sculptor, Shashikant Chandurkar had made over 200 Ganesh idols for today’s festival. “Last year, I had made only 60 idols. But this year, since the BMC election is just round the corner, many candidates have chose to bring Ganesha at their home during ‘Maghi Ganapati Utsav’ to seek the divine blessings. The sales have increased by over 70 percent,” Chandurkar said. Meanwhile, among the BMC candidates in the city, Shiv Sena’s Mahesh Raorane from Parel said, “I will be bringing the Ganesh idol in my party office as well as in my house. I want to contest the elections with the blessing of lord Ganesha and I am confident that with his help, I will surely win.” Another candidate from Dadar, Parashuram Bhagwan of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) said, “Ganapati has always been my source of inspiration and well-being. I have never brought Ganesh idol during the Ganesh festival. However, this time, since the elections are round, I decided to bring the lord to my house. I know my prayers will be answered by the lord.” BJP’s Vinod Gajanan from Sewri has also decided to bring in Ganesha at his place. “I have been bringing Ganesha at my place during the ‘Maghi Ganapati Utsav’ and this year too I have brought the idol. For me, Ganesha is everything and I am sure that I will come out victorious with his blessings,” Gajanan said. Siddhivinayak Maghi Mahotsav in the city… “The festival includes devotional songs by Anuradha Paudwal and will have Shiv Kumar Sharma, Anup Jalota, Trilok Gurtu, Louis Banks beguiling audience on subsequent days. These are the sessions, which music lovers cannot afford to miss. The performance will start at 6.15 p.m. every day and will be open to all Mumbaikars,” said Bapu Narkar, spokesperson of the festival. The highlight of the festival is the session of vocalist Pandit Ajay Pohankar, world famous percussionist Trilok Gurtu and keyboard maestro and composer Abhijit Pohankar. The trio will bring elements of Thumri and Indian classical music and world rhythm in a perfect blend of fusion music. Schedule of the events: |