Incessant showers played spoilsport with weekend Ganeshotsav festivities, with devotees staying indoors and giving mandals in the city a wide berth
The incessant rains that lashed the city yesterday cast a damper on festivities in the city, pouring cold water, quite literally, on months of painstaking preparations by Ganpati mandals. While the usual crowds could be found in and around the clutch of iconic mandals in the city, other mandals were given a wide berth by devotees, as heavy rains lashed the city all day.
Heavy waterlogging in Parel meant that devotees had to wade through water to reach popular mandals. Pic/Rane Ashish
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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 49.3 mm rainfall in Colaba and 37.2 mm rainfall in Santacruz. The IMD predicted heavy rains on Monday as well. Lalbaug, home to the city’s most popular mandals, witnessed the usual rush of devotees.
However, with the continuous downpour, most preferred to stay home, giving their annual mandal circuit a miss, while those who ventured out had to brave the incessant downpour to get a glimpse of their revered idols. Delays on the railway networks, traffic congestion and waterlogging also added to their plight. Lalbaug, the most popular destination among devotees during the 10-day festival, witnessed flooding last morning.
Cutting down on fun
A mandal at Parel had to stop the fun fair that it conducts every year, fearing a short circuit. Other mandals were seen grappling with the problem of sopping wet mandal decorations, while hawkers who usually make brisk business during the festival were seen sitting idle with their fare, in the absence of customers.
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