Smaller Ganpati idols, online darshan and immersion at home - this year's Ganesh Chaturthi festival is being celebrated in a different from usual manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has failed to dampen the spirits of Mumbaikars. Armed with face masks and maintaining social distance, people are celebrating the festival by donating blood and creating awareness while fighting COVID-19. (All photos/Suresh Karkera, Ashish Raje)
Updated On: 2020-08-26 08:00 AM IST
This year, the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival is being celebrated under the shadow of coronavirus. Though the celebrations have been curtailed, it has not stopped Mumbaikars from getting home diety and marking the festival.
In photo: A four-feet Ganpati idol at Tejukaya pandal.
Owing to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, popular mandals, including G.S.B Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpoklicha Chintamani, have decided to organise blood donation drives and health camps.
In photo: A devotee donates blood during a health camp organised at Lalbaugcha Raja.
Ganpati pandals across the city are seen organising health camps and raising awareness about the deadly virus. This year, Lalbaugcha Raja mandal organised a blood donation drive and plasma donation drive.
In photo: A couple armed with face mask pose for a selfie at 'Mumbai Cha Raja' pandal.
The Lalbaugcha Raja mandal, which is one of the most popular pandals in Mumbai, has also decided to donate the donation amount to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Further more, the mandal will also honour families of the martyrs, who lost their lives at the LOC and LAC while serving the nation.
In photo: A devotee checks his temperature before entering the 'Mumbai Cha Raja' pandal.
During the weekend, devotees thronged the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Parel to donate blood. On Monday, Bollywood choreographer Remo Dsouza donated blood at Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati Utsav. He also donated kits, comprising of face mask, head cover, alcohol wipes, gloves, shoe covers, and sanitisers.
In photo: Devotees armed with face mask stand near a barricade and offer prayers to Lalbaugcha Raja.
At the Ganesh Galli Cha Raja, which is one of the oldest and most renowned Ganpati pandals in Mumbai, devotees armed with face masks were seen checking their body temperature before entering the pandal for darshan.
At Mahalaxmi, residents of Bal Gopal Ganesh Mitra Mandal dedicated their Ganpati decoration to COVID-19 warriors for leading the fight against the global pandemic.
In photo: Doctors and healthcare workers at Lalbaugcha Raja during the blood donation drive.
With no Ganpati visarjan procession, dhol-tasha music and immersion at home, Mumbaikars decided to go eco-friendly and welcomed home Lord Ganesha idols made of dry fruits, seeds, and chocolates among other materials.
A resident of Parel, Parag Sawant, replicated a chawl for Ganpati decoration at his home. While speaking to mid-day, Parag said he got the idea since the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have been cut down for the public. Sawant, who was helped by two friends to make the decoration, said he wanted to have that feeling of the Chawl in his decor which is why he paid attention to the nitty-gritty of the chawl life.
In photo: Chawl decoration done by Parag Sawant.
At Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital, children suffering from cancer made an idol of Lord Ganesha from chocolate. The chocolate Ganesha was later immersed in milk and distributed to the kids at the hospital.
