PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Sept 18: An eye-catching pandal, elaborate safety measures and entertainment for all will once again mark the most popular Ganesh Puja at Kadma in Jamshedpur, which will be organised by Shree Bala Ganapati Vilas from September 19, Tuesday.
For the organisers, the prime concern is a safe Ganesh Puja, which was started way back in 1919 and even 105 years on, attracts a huge crowd that throng the grounds for 16 days.
Puja Committee chairman, B Anand Rao said the grand Ganesh Puja Mahotsav pandal will be inaugurated by former Chief Minister Raghubar Das this evening.
Tomorrow, the ‘Kalash Sthapna’ and ‘Pran Pratistha’ will take place, with Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda as the chief guest and local MLA Saryu Roy as special guest.
The evening of September 19 will see the fair’s inauguration by Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato.
A ‘Mahabhandara’ (community meal) will be organized for devotees on October 2, followed by the immersion procession on October 4.
This year, the budget for the puja is expected to be around Rs 20 lakh.
“This is the most popular and elaborate Ganesh Puja in Jamshedpur. We always try to make it both entertaining and safe. The budget is being stretched because of inflation,” said a member of the organising committee.
Apart from police provided by the district administration, private guards from an agency will be deployed to keep trouble-makers at bay.
Not only would fire engines be present round the clock, but the event has been insured to deal with any emergencies.
