Ganpati Bappa Morya. . .

Kolhapur like few other Maharashtrian cities has a very high repute of celebrating GANESH FESTIVAL in style. This time we have just emerged from the heavy pouring rains and the high flowing rivers but still the city continues the spirit of celebration. Ganesh Idols were established at Homes since early Sunday morning, while the Mandals (communities) continued their processions till very late night. The various scenes ( DEKHAVE ) prepared by numerous Mandals are the highlight of Kolhapuri Ganesh Festival. Some Mandals have a repute of opening their scene for Public since the first day of Ganpati, so they continued the trend and we got a glimpse of the few of such Mandals. While members of other groups are keeping very busy in preparing the Scenes. Usually these Mandals open for general public viewing from the next day of Gori Ganpati Viserjan as the House hold Ganpati Idols are immersed in River on that day. People then can enjoy the festival for remaining four days till Anant Chathurti. This time Viserjan is on 6th (saturday) while Anant Chaturthi on Wednesday. So some Mandals have decided to open their dekhave from 6th itself & the members have started to work accordingly. Some Mandals especially from Mangalwar Peth & Shivaji Peth areas do live scence, thus are busy rehearsing them and preparing sets for the same. Others show artistic & attractive stage & pandal (tent) decoration.

Now for some serious issues - The roads of Kolhapur as we wrote some time back are not in proper condition to hold the visherjan procession of the Ganpatis. The latest news is that State Govt. has sanction a fund of Rs.2,60,00,000/- ( YES 2 Crore 60 Lakhs) for reconstruction of roads of Kolhapur. The quest now is to see whether the said work will be completed before 6th September. Another blunder needed to be brought forward that a proposed Jetty on Panchganga Ghat to stage comfort of immersion process received a fund of Rs.25,00,000 (25 LAKHS) but later it was thought that the Ghat will only be used once a year and its not worth to spend such a amount on it. Thus members of KMC diverted the funds in development of Rankala Lake (we all know what development). Thus the Proposed Jetty continues to be what it was... a proposal.

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