COVID-19 damnpens the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and Pune

Ganesh’s arrival from Mount Kailash on August 22 this year will lack the mandatory pomp and show, thanks to the global pandemic COVID-19. Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day festival starts on the fourth day of Hindu lunisolar calendar month Bhadrapada. It is celebrated all through India but the celebrations in Maharashtra have garnered immense attention. From huge statues to cultural events, pandals in Mumbai see as long as 24hrs of waiting period just to get a glimpse of Vinayak. Theatre, dance and musical performances make their rounds, giving artists an additional means for income and the audience, unlimited entertainment. But this year, the delicate balance is being disturbed.

A downsized Ganesh Festival

When BMC released the guidelines for Ganpati celebrations this year, two major events happened- many ‘Ganpati mandals’ decided to cancel their celebrations and a lot of artists and craftsmen lost a major chunk of their income.

According to the Home Department, idols in ‘pandals’ have been restricted to 4-feet in size and 2-feet for homes. Previously, Mumbai saw idols as high as 22-feet, a larger than life approach and around 84 immersion sites including beaches, ponds, lakes, and creeks.

In light of COVID-19, Lalbaugcha Raja, which witnesses about 1.5 lakh devotees, has been cancelled. A major talk of the town, this mandap is rumoured to grant wishes and uphold an 86-year-old legacy. The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal which organizes and oversees this particular mandap will install a smaller idol instead. They will also conduct Blood and Plasma donation camps. Following a similar path is The Shivaji Park Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal and Andhericha Raja Mandal who have come up with Health camps and are donating to the ‘CM Relief Fund for treatment of COVID-19 patients’. They will foresee all the guidelines, especially sanitization of the premises and thermal screening. The GSB Wadala Ganpati Mandal has postponed their celebrations to February 2021. The Dagduseth Ganpati organizers in Pune have distributed food packets to the transgender community.

Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja

Source: The New Indian Express

‘Mumbaicha Raja’ or ‘Ganesh Gaully Ganpati’ will simplify their celebrations and immerse their idols in an artificial pond this year. BMC has received only 300 applications ( the usual being 3000) this year for permission to organize Ganeshotsav. On the other hand, the ones organizing a small-scale festival this year are gearing up to collect idols from individual homes and perform a mass immersion, thus reducing gatherings and ensuring safety. The Government is also encouraging people to immerse the Idols during the Maghi Ganesh Chaturthi that happens in February. “There’ll be a little bit of band-baja”, says Naresh Dahibawker of BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti. A few permissions such as carrying of padukas has been granted in lieu of upholding ancient traditions, but ‘dekhavas’ has been restricted altogether. These guidelines have dampened the spirit of the Mumbaikars, the organizers are showing a lack of enthusiasm but there are promises of coming back next year- bigger and better.

The plight of Workers/Artists Dependent on the Festival

“Even though it comes just once a year, it gives extra economic support to needy artists. We will not be doing dubbings or plays this time and it feels like we missed our ritual to worship God.”- Pratiksha Shinde, a local artist.

Due to the low-key affair, this year- idol makers, flower vendors, bamboo sellers, transport contractors, sweet makers and other artists are resorting to selling vegetables or partaking in other forms of labour to earn their keep. Ganpati Festival has a turnover of about Rs. 70 Crore every year, including Govt. taxes, but this year has shown a major loss with idol size reduced and cancellation of major mandap celebrations. The jewellery for the idol itself costs ranges from Rs 100 to 1 Lakh.

A delay in decision-making by the Government has put the Idol makers in a tight spot. Lack of open spaces and the inability of the government to intervene has made it difficult to follow the safety procedures. Gajanan Tondvalkar, the president of ‘Brihanmumbai Ganesh Murtikar Sangh’ points out the unavailability of clay due to the absence of means to transport it from Gujarat. Middle-class neighbourhoods have seen a decline in donation due to the lay-offs and strained income. The idol makers have collectively suffered a loss of Rs. 400 Crore according to Vikas Sindhe of Mati Kala Vikas Cell. Santosh Kambi’s family has been making the Lalbaugcha Raja Idol for the past 80 years but this year they are counting on celebrity families to buy the idols.

Source: The Print

Mukul Sane, a theatre artist and a member of United Eklavyas says, “This time we are missing our live stage shows. I have been doing theatre for 6 years and this is not just a festival, but an extra source of income for artists like us. This year, me and my team are at a great loss.” He has performed at the Income Tax Department and Pune Municipal Corporation for many years. Rangoli artist Malhar Ambulgekar is utilizing the lockdown by making idols and canvas paintings instead of his usual Rangoli art.

The Maharashtra Dhol Tasha Mahasangh in Pune has restricted its performers to practice or take part in the processions. Instead, they are delivering ration kits to 250 families to ‘members of music band groups’. Rahul Iimaye of Rhythm Entertainment, who has performed in places such as Padmavati Society (Dhankawadi) and Oxygen Valley (Warje) will not be giving their music performances this year.

Rajendra Pandharpure told The Hindu how the absence of celebratory mood has impacted the socio-cultural fabric of Pune.

Online Darshan

Amidst all the fuss, Mumbai hasn’t lost much of its spirit. Facebook, Zoom, Google and Cable TV will be utilized to live stream the puja. About 162 special trains have been launched for commuters to travel and to ensure social distancing and hygiene is met. Sarvajanik Utsav Samitia’s chairman, Neena Hejib says, “There will be aarti on Zoom platform in the evening with the immersion next day”.

While this is a novel and well-planned approach, a lot of people don’t have access to internet or Cable services. Financial constraint is a problem that has worsened during COVID situation. The organizers aren’t tech-savvy either, but online lectures and cultural events are being planned by mandaps. Artists are allowed to record their performances. However, most artists don’t have a separate stage/set-up to organize performances and travelling to a studio is risky. Dancing and Music troupes who visit Mumbai exclusively for their performance are unable to do so, hence affecting their livelihood.

Manjiri Girish Deshpande- a Bharatnatyam dancer, however, asks us to stay positive and hopeful, and open up to this new experience. She points out, “Digital platforms are open to everyone. It is interesting and creative and dancers can try out new choreography for the audience.”

There is a mix of disappointment and acceptance among people in Maharashtra. Devotion among the devotees can’t be marred, but the celebrations will have to be kept as minimum as possible. It will be a test for the devotees and the organizers, and Maharashtra has to emerge unscathed.

BY MRIDULA GUPTA