Highlight power of Operation Sindoor during Ganeshotsav: Ashish Shelar tells organisers

Pune city Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, and several MLAs attended.

"During this year's Ganesh festival, Ganesh Mandals should raise awareness about the power India demonstrated to the world through Operation Sindoor and the importance of using indigenous products. They can consider putting up informative boards highlighting the achievements of freedom fighters," Shelar said, reported PTI.

He said the mandals can also highlight the themes of the inclusion of 12 forts in the UNESCO World Heritage list and the environment.

"The official logo for the Ganesh festival should be illuminated on government buildings and heritage sites," he added, reported PTI.

Shelar said district collectors can allow the use of loudspeakers until midnight for seven days during the Ganesh festival. The administration should discuss this with Ganesh Mandals and public representatives before making a final decision, he added.

Heavy vehicles banned on Mumbai-Goa Highway on different days during Ganesh festival

Meanwhile, heavy vehicles will be prohibited from plying on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway in the run-up and during most days of the 10-day Ganesh festival beginning on August 27 for the convenience of motorists, said a senior Maharashtra government official on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The nearly 500-km-long NH-66, which passes through the coastal Konkan region, sees a heavy rush of Lord Ganesh devotees during and immediately after the festival.

Joint secretary in the transport department Rajendra Holkar informed that vehicles weighing 16 tonnes or more will be banned from plying on the busy highway during the Ganesh festival in the interest of public convenience, reported PTI.

In an official statement, Holkar stated that the ban, which will not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities, has been imposed under provisions of Section 155 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The restriction will apply to trucks, multi-axle vehicles, trailers, lorries and other heavy vehicles from midnight of August 23 to 11 pm on August 28, reported PTI.

Further curbs will be enforced on August 31 and September 2 from 8 am to 11 pm to facilitate the immersion of Ganesh idols of five and seven days, Gauri Ganpati idols, and the return journeys of devotees, said the statement, reported PTI.

For the immersion of 11-day idols on Anant Chaturdashi, the ban will be in place from 8 am on September 6 until 8 pm on September 7.

(With inputs from PTI)