Devotees to worship 100 million rupee Ganesha idol in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug.23 (ANI): As people in different parts of the country are celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi or the birthday of Lord Ganesha on Sunday, several religious community groups in Mumbai are taking pride in worshipping Ganesha idols in makeshift temples.

At Wadala in Mumbai, a community Ganesha Puja has been organised where the idol is believed to be the richest in terms of cost.

The idol of Ganesha has been created under the banner of GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti.

The Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) is a community of high caste Hindus hailing from the coastal areas of Karnataka and Kerala. Their mother tongue is Konkani.

During the 10-day festival, the 17-feet high Ganesha idol at the GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti will be adorned with numerous gold and silver ornaments, worth over 100 million rupees.

According to the organisers, the gold ornaments weigh around 65 kilograms while the silver ones are in the range of 250 kilograms.

"The Ganpati adorns 60-65 kgs of gold, 250 kgs of silver which amounts to not less than 10 crores of rupees (100 million rupees). All this has been made possible by the devotees whose prayers and wishes have been answered," said Satish Nayak, Trustee, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB), Seva Mandal, Wadala, Mumbai.

Meanwhile, in the wake of last year's Mumbai terror attacks, none of the community Puja organisers wants to take a risk vis-…-vis public safety and security.

Special security measures are in place to prevent theft.

An array of electronic surveillance devices to monitor the crowds have been installed while professional security guards and trained volunteers will monitor round the clock, at the Pandal or makeshift temple of GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti,

Mumbai Police have deployed posse of policemen and also a bomb disposal squad at the site of the community Puja as a preventive measure.

Statistic-wise, 32 cameras will focus on the idol alongside two-pan tilt and zoom cameras surveying the entire area. The number of uniformed police and security personnel is around, supplemented by 1000 young volunteers of GSB Seva Mandal.

"Everywhere you may find security people in uniform but equal number of security people and our staff are involved in taking care. We take guidance from our local police, DCP, ACP who repeatedly come here to assist us. That's why we won last year (an award for the best pandal) and this year we have further improved. Even the fire fighting equipments, we have doubled this time. We do not want to take any chance. We have emergency exits. We have plans everywhere," said Satish Nayak, Trustee, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB), Seva Mandal, Wadala, Mumbai.

On the concluding day of the festival, the idols are carried in grand processions and immersed in rivers or seas.

Lord Ganesha, is one of the most revered Gods of Hindus, and is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion.

Ganesha, as the God of knowledge is described as "Vinayaka"and as remover of obstacles he is called "Vighanharta". He is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion for blessings of luck and success. By Parihas Hate (ANI)