Lord Ganpati celebration at Keshavji Naik Chawl in Girgaum low key amid Covid-19 pandemic

The Sarvajanik Ganapati celebrations which were started by Lokmanya Tilak, this year toned down due to Pandemic .In its 128th year of celebration no public gatherings, Keshavji Naik Chawl residents plan to go low profile in this Ganeshotsav.

@santosheemishra 

Mumbai: The Keshavji Naik Chawl at Khadilkar Marg at Charni Road which boasts of holding the first Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai way back in 1893, almost 128 years ago. The first public Ganpati organised by the Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Sanstha (SSGS). It has been every year after that the SSGS celebrates Ganesh festival in traditional way with full-swing. But this year things are just not the same due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the festive spirit is somewhat dampened.

Every year with the dhol-tasha in Palkhi the Lord Ganapati would arrive in Palkhi at Keshavji Naik Chawl. All the married women in traditional sarees and jewelries’ used to perform puja at the arrival of Lord Ganesha. The rangolis, modaks, cultural programmes and thousands of devotees visit has remained a tradition at this Chawl. 

This year, the SSGS has decided not to have any mandap, no decoration and no prasad. The Ganpati idol instead of open place is likely to be kept in one of kholi (room) of Keshavji Naik Chawl. Only two members of the SSGS will attend to the room where Lord Ganesh will be placed.

After the great leader Lokmanya Tilak had urged people to come together and celebrate the festival of togetherness, the Mumbai city saw its first public Ganpati in Girgaum at Keshavji Naik Chawl. 

While talking to TheNews21 Ashok Pednekar the Secretary of the SSGS told that the 600 member’s mandal has decided to tone down the mode of celebration of Lord Ganpati as it is definitely a matter of concern in tough time of contagious coronavirus disease to curb it by means of cutting down the gatherings of people. 

The Ganpati at Keshavji Naik Chawl is popularly known as Tilak’s Ganpati across the state and thousands of people gather to seek blessings from Lord Ganesh.

“This year, we have decided to bring Lord Ganesh idol in palkhi minus the traditional dhols. We will keep palkhi of Lord Ganpati on handcart so as the numbers of people involved in palkhi are reduced from 10-12 persons to only 4-persons to pull handcart. After arrival of Lord Ganesh all the women of Chawl come out together for Arti this year only one young girl will do the arti of Ganpati,” said Pednekar. 

The trustee Vinod Satpute highlighted that since the senior citizens are also a matter of concern the authorities of the mandal are in talks with them also.” If the health issue of any senior citizen arise prior to the day, we may place Lord Ganesh in little open place. There is good open place available between two chawls so it can be also utilized, “added Satpute 

The SSGS has cancelled all public entries of devotees this year. In fact the LED screen will be placed outside Keshavji Naik Chawl so as the devotees can seek blessings. Also, for 10-days Ganesh festival the live-streaming of Lord Ganpati will be via social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube .”

Instead of procession of immersion of Lord Ganesh idol the secretary Pednekar said, ” We bring an eco-friendly Ganesh idol which is of two and half feet and this year the immersion will be in our home-made artificial pond.”