15 September,2010 09:03 AM IST | | Debarati Palit
MiD DAY takes you on a round of the Ganapatis in the lanes and by-lanes of the city as it celebrates its favourite festival
The city is in the midst of Ganeshotsav, the biggest festival of the year. The city is known for the decorations its Ganesh mandals come up with around the idol of the deity.
All 10 days of the festival, it is a feast for the eyes, with the grandest show of all being the immersion procession to bid Ganapati adieu.
The festival brings together communities; many non-Hindus also enjoy the festivities. It is a great event not only because of the scale of the celebrations but also because it breaks down religious barriers.
Yesterday we took you to the Shrimant Dagdushet Halwai Ganapati, the Bajirao Road Natubag Mandal and the Sainath mandal Trust. Today we bring you three more Ganesh mandals.
Babu Genu Mandal
Ask, and you will get: The Babu Genu Ganapati is famous for fulfilling the wishes of devotees.
"Each and every wish of devotees is fulfilled here. Over the years people have started calling the mandal a place where wishes comes true," said Balasaheb Marne, president of the Babu Genu Mandal.
Marne has been a member of the mandal since he was a 10-year-old. The mandal is located in the heart of the city, in Shukrawar Peth. More than 500 members, who either live or run a business in the area, take care of its activities.
It was started by Nana Patil in 1970 as a mark of respect for Babu Ghenu, the freedom fighter who sacrificed his life under a truck carrying British goods. For four years, the Ganapati festival was celebrated in a small temple, but in 1974 the pandal was shifted to the main road.
The mandal is open for devotees 24 hours and members work in shifts to ensure everything is smooth.
"Members work in shifts, round-the-clock. Each shift has 30 to 40 people, who are here for 10 days," said Marne. "Kids from the age of eight years actively take part in the celebrations and work is divided among them equally."
Around seven lakh devotees from across the state visit the mandal during Ganeshotsav every year and the trustees keep a track through coins that are provided to each person. As its popularity has grown in past years, more and more devotees come here with a wish, tie a thread and once their wish is fulfilled, they come back to open the thread, a tradition that has been followed for decades.
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The mandal is also famous for its decorations and themes. For the past two years, Bollywood set designer Nitin Desai has been designing the pandal. If one walks through it, one gets the feel of a palace. Even the designs during visarjan is done by Desai.
"This year we have gone for the replica of the Lord Maruti's mandir which was there in Bajirao-Mastani's palace," said Marne. "You will get a historical feeling." At the front, there is the face of Shiva with water flowing out of his head. A pot or kalash is kept in the middle of the pool and those who want to make a wish throw a rupee coin in it.
Marne says once devotees' wishes are fulfilled, they offer various items to Ganapati, from gold and silver to coconuts and sweets.
As the rush grows, so do the security concerns. Apart from mandal members and the police, private security personnel have also been posted throughout the day and night.
The mandal members are as much into social work as prayers and worship. This year they have donated swine flu vaccine doses to 500 students from various government schools.
Blood donation camps are held several times a year, and members also donate blood whenever somebody is in need of it.
I love visiting this place because of love for the Ganesh idol, resting on the beautifully decorated swing. It's a peaceful and amazing experience to visit the mandal during Ganesh festival
-- Mona Pandit, a devoteeu00a0
I love visiting all the mandals around this area. But this one has magnificent and beautiful decorations
-- Archit Khandelwal, a devotee
Hira Baug Mitra Mandal
Tech savvy: Decoration at the Hirabaug Mitra Mandal on Tilak Road use a lot of technology. This year's theme is the birth of the universe
The Hira Baug Mitra Mandal was started some 41 years ago by Dada Saheb Pimple. Now the tradition is carried on by his brother's son Vaibhav Marathe.
The mandal is located at the Hira Baug chowk on Tilak Road. There are around 250 members who work for almost two months for the Ganeshotsav decorations and other arrangements. It is the first place in
the city to have started working on automatic decorations.
"We can proudly say that we were the first mandal who started with technological and computerised decorations. This time we have launched the touch screen, which can be accessed even by a 10-year-old kid," said Sharad Patil, treasurer of the mandal. It is the decorations and presentations that draw the crowd here. All the latest technologies are incorporated in the decorations.
"Our members are experts in designing and they work in various design organisations. In fact, during the present festival, we discuss the next year's decoration ideas and members start working on it," said Patil. "The ideas are the major part of the job."
This year the mandal has focused on the creation of the universe. It is presented both mythologically and scientifically with Vishnu and Shiva and an atlas. The designing has been done by Vipin Wadekar and Sandeep Naik.
"Members are currently staying in various parts of the country, but during these days they are present here," said Patil. "In fact, those who are living in Pune are present in the mandal for past two months, taking care of the decorations."
I have seen the decorations of the place once and a lot of hard work goes into it. I have enjoyed the decorations
-- Sandeep Roy, a devotee
I have seen quiet a few mandals in the city and this oneu00a0 in particular really stands out. The organisers have done a wonderful job with the decorations and they are very beautiful during the night
-- Devjeet Saha, Studentu00a0
Khajina Vihir Mandal
Mythology display: Khajina Vihir Mitra Mandal. The mandal is known for mythological themes
This 79-year-old mandal is one of the oldest in the city. The members follow rules strictly, as suggested by the government. Be it switching off the music at 10 pm or a low-key visarjan, the members make it a point to stick to rules.
"What makes the mandal so special is that we still follow the tradition," said Suresh Kasar, one of the oldest members of the mandal. "During visarjan, we have both women and men but everyone maintain decency. Ladies move in circles, which is a traditional form; we also have the dhol-tasha."
The mandal is run by locals and has around 200 members, men as well as women. Earlier the locals worshipped at the Vitthal temple but after Sambaji Rao Kakade donated an eight-feet idol, they began celebrating on a large scale.
"We have had the same idol for the past 39 years and during the eleven and half months of the year, the idol is kept at the wrestling house used by the local boys," said Anil Kakade, president of the mandal.u00a0
The idol has 111 tola gold and 50 kg silver donated by devotees. The mandal is built in the middle of the busy road and members are present throughout the day looking after the traffic or the crowd.
The members meet a couple of months before the festival to discuss the theme. Every year, mythological stories are told through these designs.
This year the mandal has presented the story of Gajendra Moksha, the elephant whose leg was caught by a crocodile. "It's a great way to tell youngsters many untold stories. We always focus on mythological stories," said Kasar.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Apart from worshiping, the members also donate blood and provide food to HIV positive children at a NGO.
I have visited Khajina Vihir Mandal for years.u00a0 Bappa looks so beautiful and calm here
-- Bobby Pawar, housewifeu00a0u00a0
I visit all famous mandalsu00a0 and this is one of them
-- Archit Khandelwal, a devotee
