Kolkata: More complexes join Ganesh Chaturthi bandwagon but celebrations to be muted – Times of India

KOLKATA: More than 100 khuti pujas for Ganesh Chaturthi were performed on Monday in areas like Salt Lake, New Town, lake Town, Burrabazar and south Kolkata, setting the ball rolling for the festive season. At Kumartuli, the porters have been receiving steady orders for the idols of the deity signifying luck and prosperity, though, the organisers have scaled down both the size of the idol and celebrations owing to the pandemic.
The orders coming from housing complexes or co-operatives have increased marginally due to the safety guidelines for Covid-19.

Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on September 10 this year. Salt Lake Maitri Sangha organised the khuti puja on Monday. The puja that takes place near Salt Lake swimming pool every year is organised by resident of BF and CF block together. “Since Janmashtami is an auspicious day so we had the khuti puja today. The work on the pandal will start from Tuesday onwards and the deity will be brought next week,” said Kripa Shankar Sharma, president of the club. .
The past 10 to 12 years have witnessed a steep rise in the number of Ganesh pujas in the city. Earlier there would not be more than 100 to 150 Ganesh Pujas in the city and most were in pockets like Burrabazar, Posta, SN Banerjee Road, Kankurgachi and Bangur. But now there are close to 1,000 to 1,200 Ganesh Pujas every year.
One of the main reason behind the popularity is the heightened prayer for prosperity not only among the business class but even those in service and manufacturing. Another big reason is the active role politicians have started playing. “The top Durga Pujas in the city are headed by the frontline politicians of the ruling party. But those in the second and the third rung too need to mobilise their workers but don’t have the budget. So, they started organising their own Ganesh Pujas,” said a TMC leader who organises a big Ganesh Puja in south Kolkata.
This year, more housing societies have decided to organise the Puja, since visiting the communities might be a problem due to Covid-19 safety guidelines. Many gated communities which already organise Ganesh Chaturthi have got all their members vaccinated before undertaking the preparations.
“We have 405 apartments in the housing and everybody is already fully vaccinated. The preparations for the festival will start from Tuesday,” said Paramita Adhikari, cultural secretary of Greenwood Sonata in New Town.
“Due to the pandemic and safety guidelines we will be involving very few people in the arrangements and all norms will be followed.”