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Markets abuzz ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi
Mumbai:
Markets are abuzz with activity in Mumbai ahead
of Ganesh Chaturthi, which begins on Wednesday. Markets
were decorated beautifully as shopkeepers displayed
their wares in interesting ways to attract the customers.
Miniature temples, crowns, thrones to seat the Ganesha
idols, and an array of varied decorative items are
some of the items that are most sought after. For
the people, the festival is an occasion of great joy
and even the hike in prices of the materials because
of inflation could do little to dampen their festive
spirits. "It is our biggest festival and comes once
a year, so we prepare for it with great enthusiasm.
But this year, the things are a little expensive due
to inflation," said Manoj, a customer. The shopkeepers
are a happy lot, as the festival spells booming business
for them. "The market grows by ten per cent every
year. As nowadays people are becoming more religious,
so they flock the markets ahead of the festivals resulting
the market to grow every year," said Gulshan Rane,
a shopkeeper.
Meanwhile,
considering the recent terror attacks in the country,
security has been beefed up in Mumbai. CCTV's have
been installed at the pandals apart from routine fire
extinguishing devices and other safety measures. "We
have installed CCTV cameras to keep a track on the
visitors visiting the pandals. The visitors should
come in queues to avoid stampedes. There will be separate
queue for ladies and children. It is very important
to make these arrangements to avoid any untoward incidents,"
said K.L. Prasad, Joint Commisioner of Police, Mumbai.
Policemen have been deployed to guard the pandals.
They have also been stationed around the city at crowded
places to keep a check on any untoward incident. Special
arrangements are being made to ensure safe and smooth
festival. The ten-day long festival that marks the
birthday of Lord Ganesha is celebrated with great
fanfare across the state. During the festival, Ganesha
idols are worshipped at hundreds of 'pandals' or makeshift
tents before they are immersed in water bodies. For
years, Ganesh Chaturthi was a personal or private
affair, celebrated at homes. But at the turn of the
century, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, freedom fighter and
social reformer, converted it into a public event,
using it as a platform to fight the British colonial
rule. The festival is very popular in Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
-Sept 2,
2008
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