Latest news with #Ganeshotsav
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Large Ganesh idols to be immersed in sea, Maharashtra govt tells Bombay HC
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday submitted an affidavit in the Bombay High Court stating that while domestic Ganesh idols of a certain height will be immersed in artificial ponds, large idols of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals will be immersed in the traditional manner in the sea, with all necessary environmental precautions in place. The court had directed the state government to clarify its stand on the immersion of large idols during Ganeshotsav, the 10-day festival celebrating Lord Ganesh, which begins on August 27 this year. Last month, the Bombay High Court had lifted a ban on the manufacture and sale of idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), but remarked that such idols should not be immersed in natural water bodies. The earlier ban on PoP idols had posed a serious threat to the livelihood of lakhs of sculptors. This had prompted state Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar to direct the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission to conduct a thorough study on the matter. A panel led by scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar was commissioned, which examined the use of PoP and its environmental impact and submitted key recommendations to the government. Relying on the findings of the committee, the state government conducted a detailed study and submitted its affidavit before the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The matter was heard by the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, with Advocate General Birendra Saraf outlining the state's policy before the court. The state government affirmed its commitment to upholding tradition, particularly the age-old practice of immersing large Ganesh idols in the sea. To maintain ecological balance, the existing system of using artificial ponds for the immersion of smaller, household idols of a certain height will continue as before. The court has taken note of the government's stance and the hearing will continue on Thursday.
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State makes it mandatory to immerse Ganpati idols under 5 feet in artificial tanks
MUMBAI: In a move aimed at reducing water pollution during Ganeshotsav, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it will now be mandatory to immerse all Ganesh idols measuring up to 5 feet in height in artificial ponds provided by local municipal bodies across the state. Dr Saraf responded that while tanks up to 5 feet deep are currently feasible, creating much larger ones is not practical at this stage. He added that the state was in the process of forming an expert committee to study alternatives, including solutions for soluble idols The announcement was made by advocate general Dr Birendra Saraf while responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Rohit Manohar, who raised concerns about the environmental impact of immersing Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in natural water bodies. 'Until now, using artificial tanks for immersion was optional. But in keeping with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, immersion of idols up to 5 feet in height must now be done only in artificial ponds provided by local authorities,' Dr Saraf told a division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne. He clarified that there is no such mandatory rule for idols taller than 5 feet, but added that civic bodies will collect such idols a day after immersion and clean the natural water bodies where they are placed. Saraf also pointed out emerging eco-friendly trends. 'Many people now immerse idols at home, including edible Ganpatis made of chocolate that dissolve in milk, which is then distributed as prasad,' he said. He added that in Pune, some Ganpati mandals follow the CPCB's suggestion of not immersing large idols at all, and instead use smaller replicas made of shadu mati (natural clay) for immersion. The PIL had earlier prompted the High Court to allow the manufacture of PoP idols, but with a strict caveat: they could not be immersed in lakes, rivers or other natural water bodies without explicit permission. When asked by the court about the number of idols typically immersed in Mumbai, Saraf cited government data showing nearly 195,000 idols under 5 feet and just over 7,000 idols above that height are immersed during the festival. This includes 3,865 idols between 5 to 10 feet and 3,998 idols above 10 feet. Concerned about the pollution caused by these taller idols, the court asked whether it was technically feasible to build artificial ponds deep enough to accommodate them. 'Can you make 25-foot-deep tanks for 10-foot idols?' the bench asked. Dr Saraf responded that while tanks up to 5 feet deep are currently feasible, creating much larger ones is not practical at this stage. He added that the state was in the process of forming an expert committee to study alternatives, including solutions for soluble idols. 'You'll have to come up with an environmentally safe solution for idols made of dissolvable materials,' the court said, directing the state to present its plan in future hearings.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mandals & moortikars' hopes raised as govt favours sea immersion of large idols
Mumbai: The hopes of Ganeshotsav mandals and PoP moortikars were raised of having a resolution for the PoP conundrum in sight as govt submitted its immersion policy in an affidavit in HC on Wednesday stating that large idols of sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals can be immersed in the traditional manner in the sea with all necessary environmental precautions in place. Govt said the sanctity of the 125-year-old festival, including idol immersion, will be preserved. The 10-day festival begins on Aug 27. The Lalbaug-Parel belt and Khetwadi install large idols over 20ft; Mumbaicha Maharaja of Khetwadi 11th Lane rises up to 38ft, the tallest in Maharashtra. It is impossible to immerse whole in any artificial tank. Mandal president Hemant Dixit said, "I have seen authorities discussing a PoP ban since 2007. But I was confident our govt would not allow Maharashtra's most important festival to be jeopardised. How will you carve thousands of sarvajanik idols from clay? And how many artificial tanks will you build for immersion? I am happy that after declaring Ganeshotsav as the state festival, govt is defending our concerns before HC. " Swapnil Parab, secretary of Ganesh Gully mandal in Lalbaug, whose idol stands 22ft tall, said, "Since the ban on PoP, our preparation had slowed down. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Takes off Her Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo Now that the hurdles are being removed, we are excited to celebrate." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Vikas Sawant, mandal treasurer of the 21ft Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani, said, "I am glad all worries of mandals are easing. Artisans were also anxious about immersion. Now we can move forward with preparations." Naresh Dahibawkar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, whose suggestions helped govt determine its stance, said, "I am happy that our fears were heeded and a solution is near. Ganpati visarjan is also celebrated in a grand manner with tall idols being led to Girgaum Chowpatty and Dadar. The court's approval will pave the way for this tradition to continue." Moortikars are anxious for visarjan nod to be finalised since business hinges on it. "We are keenly awaiting the decision," said moortikar Viful Jadhav of Ganesh Arts, Goregaon. PoP moortikar Ravindra Vispute echoed his views. "Due to the initial ban, our workshop opened late and orders were few," he said.
News18
2 days ago
- General
- News18
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025: BMC Launches Online Permit System For Mandals
Last Updated: With the digital method, Ganeshotsav mandal organisers will no longer need to make separate visits to local police stations or traffic departments to get no-objection certificates. Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Ganeshotsav, is among the most celebrated Hindu festivals in India, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom and prosperity. It's a 10-day festival, typically falling between August and September, marked by the installation of Ganesha idols in homes and public spaces, followed by prayers, cultural events, and culminating in a grand procession for immersion in water. This year, it will be celebrated on August 27 and will conclude with Ganesh Visarjan on September 6. With just a few days left for the popular festival, the preparations for huge Mandals are going on in full swing, especially in Maharashtra. This year, to speed up the procedure, the BMC began granting pavilion permits using a computerised single-window system on its official website: How to Apply? For the official permission, Mandals can visit the official portal, click on the Apply link under the For citizens section, and choose the Mandap (Public Ganeshotsav/Navratri/Other Festivals) option to begin their application. Benefit This indicates that the Ganeshotsav mandal organisers will no longer need to make separate visits to local police stations or traffic departments to get no-objection certificates (NOCs), as the BMC will handle this internally under the supervision of Assistant Commissioners and Zonal Deputy Commissioners. Taking the environment into consideration, the civic authority has ordered mandals to avoid digging roads and pathways when building pandals. Instead, they are encouraged to use pothole-free construction methods. If digging is found, the mandal will be charged restoration costs as well as a penalty per pothole. Also, they have been advised to install eco-friendly idols and use natural materials for decoration and displays. In addition to this, the Mumbai civic body has delivered 907 tonnes of Shadu clay to sculptors for free and provided 979 idol makers with temporary workspace. Also, it has spoken with the Divisional Commissioner of Konkan to ensure adequate supply of materials and support to artists in the region, from where numerous idols are transported to Mumbai for sale. Recently, Maharashtra declared Ganeshotsav as a State Festival or Rajya Utsav. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mumbai to Goa with your car, minus the traffic? India's first ferry train set to launch before Ganesh Chaturthi
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited is launching India's first car ferry train service between Kolad and Verna, just in time for Ganesh Chaturthi. This innovative service allows travelers to transport their cars by train, reducing travel time to 12 hours compared to the current 20-22 hour road journey. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A faster, safer way to travel How it works Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Departure time: 5 PM from Kolad Arrival time: 5 AM at Verna Reporting time: 2 PM at Kolad station for loading and formalities 3AC Coach: Rs 935 per person Second Seating: Rs 190 per person Maximum of 3 passengers per car: 2 in 3AC and 1 in SLR coach Car transport cost: Rs 7,875 (one way) Eco-friendly and stress-free In a first-of-its-kind move, the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is set to launch India's first car ferry train service just in time for the Ganesh Chaturthi rush. According to a report by Times Now, this new service will allow travellers to transport their private cars by train between Kolad in Maharashtra and Verna in Goa, while they ride along in connected passenger service is expected to be a game-changer for people travelling to Goa, especially during holidays and festivals. At present, the road journey from Mumbai or Pune to Goa often takes 20 to 22 hours due to heavy traffic and winding ghat roads. The new ferry train, however, will cover the distance in just 12 hours, making the trip quicker, safer, and more officials told Daijiworld Media Network that the service will greatly reduce highway congestion, especially during Ganeshotsav, when thousands of families travel to used to carry trucks, this ferry train model will now be used for private cars. Each train will have 20 specially designed wagons, and each wagon can carry two cars, making space for 40 cars in total per the train will only run if at least 16 vehicles are must not stay inside their vehicles during the journey. Instead, they will ride in nearby coaches:Apart from reducing travel time and road stress, the car ferry service also offers a green travel alternative by cutting down fuel usage and carbon emissions. It also opens doors for carpooling and safer family travel during peak festive first-ever car ferry train in India is expected to transform the way people travel to Goa, blending the comfort of rail travel with the convenience of having your personal vehicle at your from agencies
