HYDERABAD: Hyderabadis are all set to welcome Lord Ganesha into their households this Friday. Arrangements for the 11-day festivities, which concludes with the immersion of idols on September 5, are also in full swing.While the city’s idol makers are working overtime to meet the deadlines, people are busy hitting the bazaars to complete last minute purchasing for the rituals involved in the puja on Ganesh Chaturthi, which also marks the beginning of the long season of festivals in the Hindu calendar.
The local markets have been buzzing with activity since Thursday morning and several makeshift shops selling Ganesha idols have come up on the pavements in localities including Ameerpet, Banjara Hills, Begum Bazar, Koti, Sultan Bazar, Badi Chowdi and elsewhere in the city.With an increase in the demand of fruits and flowers for the festival, the prices have also gone up forcing people to think twice before making a purchase. On Thursday, a kilogram of apple was priced anywhere between `180 and `250, mosambi and oranges costed between `50 and `80 respectively., and pomegranate ranged between `80 and `100 per kilogram, depending on size and quality.
Meanwhile, people could be seen bargaining with vendors on the high prices of flowers at the Gudimalkapur flower market on Thursday. “A kilogram of marigold flower came for around `100 and Chrysanthemum, popularly known as ‘chamanthi’, was priced between `150 and `200 per kilogram,” said Srinivas, a vendor at Gudimalkapur flower market.
Eco-friendly idols
According to the vendors, eco-friendly Ganeshas are in great demand among the people. “The craze for clay Ganesha idols is gradually picking up not just among adults but even children, as they are more aware of the harm caused to nature by using POP idols,” said S Mallesh, a vendor at Mehdipatnam.
Meanwhile, estimates suggest that the GHMC limits will have a staggering 1.25 lakh Ganesh pandals this year. Dr Bhagwanth Rao, general secretary, Bhagyanagar Ganesh Ustav Samiti, said: “There was nearly one lakh Ganesh pandals last year but this year it has increased to 1.25 lakh, including pandals in apartments, gated communities and slums.”
Eco-friendly Ganesha competition held at Gitam varsity
Hyderabad: GITAM University, Hyderabad, which has switched to celebrating Ganesh festival in an eco-friendly manner, held eco-Ganesha competitions on its campus on Thursday for budding engineers. The main aim of this event is to encourage and educate the students to use eco-friendly material in preparing idols using natural vegetable colours and organic material. School of Technology principal prof Ch Sanjay said, “Plaster of Paris (POP) idols painted with chemically loaded colours are dangerous to the environment. Eco-friendly clay Ganesha idol will help to protect the environment.” A panel of judges selected the best idols and gave away the prizes.
Guv, CM to attend Khairatabad puja
The Khairatabad Ganesh, this year, is 57 feet tall. G Sandeep Raj, convener, Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee said Governor ESL Narasimhan will perform special puja at 10.30 am on Friday. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is expected to join the evening puja.
Police to ban DJs during festival
In view of the festivities from Friday, Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy on Thursday asked pandal organisers not to indulge in playing DJs. Use of DJs are banned. ‘’We give permission to use loud speakers from 6 am to 10 pm as per court orders. There is no court order to use DJs at the idol pandals,’’ he said.