Lord Ganesha took cover under plastic sheets, while Bangaloreans, who went out shopping, hardly got any on Friday. Markets were in a mess with ...
Lord Ganesha took cover under plastic sheets, while Bangaloreans, who went out shopping, hardly got any on Friday. Markets were in a mess with flowers, fruits, leaves and other articles for Ganesha pooja spilled all over the road and many sellers and buyers struggling to take cover.
Roads and footpaths were inundated forcing sellers of idols, fruits and flowers to pack up. However, some braved the rain and traffic jams to come out and shop.
Unlike during festival times, the sale and prices of commodities for pooja have not gone up. A kg of apple in Malleswaram market was Rs 45 and banana Rs 35. But prices of flowers have gone up. A kg of jasmine was Rs 300 per kg and an arm-length of garland Rs 20. Kanakambara was sold for Rs 500 per kg, while a lotus or a rose cost Rs 5. A rose garland was sold for Rs 350. A small bunch of bilva patra, tulsi, banni patre and other leaves cost Rs 5.
“We wait for Ganesha Chaturthi every year to make big business, but this year though we brought down prices, there is hardly any sale,” said Javed Ali Khan, Owner of KGN Fruits in Malleswaram.
Padma, owner of Chandru Stores in Malleswaram market, echoed the same view. The sale of idols too was low. Shivakumar of Sri Vinayaka Shop sold only 10 idols the entire day.
TAKING GUARD High alert in City
Bangalore, dhns: In the wake of twin blasts that rocked Hyderabad on August 25, Bangalore police sounded an alert on the eve of Ganesha Chaturthi on Saturday.
Police recently held a meeting with puja committees and sensitised them on the security measures.
About 600 Home Guards have been deployed to help in security arrangements.
About 40 platoons of KSRP have been stationed at various places, said Additional Commissioner (law & order) Bipin Gopalkrishna.
DO’S AND DON’TS
Dos * Buy unpainted Ganesha idols or those painted with vegetable-based natural colours
* Immerse idols at designated tanks/ponds only
* Dispose flowers and decorative materials in a container kept at designated tanks/ ponds
* Immerse idols in a bucket of water at home and use the water for gardening
* Keep noise at a minimum level during festival
Don’ts
* Don’t buy idols painted with metallic paints
* Don’t immerse idols in lakes other than designated water bodies
* Don’t dispose decorative materials and flowers in water bodies
* Don’t create noise pollution by using speakers at high volume
* Don’t buy Ganesha idols over two feet
