Ganapati idols being prepared by artist Kiran Chitragar in Old Hubballi.
DH PHOTO/GURU HABIB
Hubballi/DHNS: With less than 20 days left for the commencement Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, preparations have already begun for the year’s grand festival to be celebrated in public.
Since a couple of months, idol makers have been busy preparing Ganapati idols of different sizes and styles, and are now in a race against time to meet the deadline. Meanwhile, Ganeshotsav Samitis which install large idols or pandals, and hold grand immersion processions are also starting preparations, including submitting applications seeking permission through the single-window system of the civic body.
Several Samitis which install small idols indoors at places like halls may not apply for permission. With the development of extension areas, the number of community idols being installed in the City is also growing in recent years. Artists from West Bengal are preparing large-sized idols, while traditional idol makers here are also preparing varieties of clay idols. Marathagalli, New Medar Oni, Durgadabail and Dajibanpet are among the places where idols with more than 20 feet in height are installed.
“A little more than 700 idols were installed in Hubballi in previous years.
This time, this number is expected to cross 800, though some of them may not go for obtaining permission, as they celebrate indoors or in a small-scale.
“Application submission may gain pace in a week,” says Hubballi Sarvajanika Shri Ganeshotsav Samitigala Mahamandal honorary secretary Amaresh Hipparagi.
The Mahamandal is trying to raise awareness among office-bearers of various Ganeshotsav Samitis, about encouraging folklore and local culture, adhering to the rules related to using DJ sets, not to use PoP idols and to complete immersion procession early, he noted.
“We have urged police and other departments to ensure smooth procession, traffic and parking during immersion, also by making the now-closed road for flyover works in front of the old bus stand restored by then, Hipparagi added.
After the installation of idols on August 27, most of the immersions take place on September 31 (fifth day), September 2 (seventh day), September 4 (ninth day), and September 6 (11th day).
Several road stretches in the City are in damaged condition, and the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which has made arrangements to issue
permissions to Samitis through a single-window system, has decided to take up pothole filling on immersion procession routes on priority.
According to HDMC Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar R, tenders for zone-wise road repair works at a cost of more than Rs three crore are in different stages including work orders already issued.
“Based on weather
conditions, priority will be given to fill potholes on
procession routes. Steps are taken to clean immersion ponds, and the approach road to Hosur pond is concretised. Zone-wise task forces will check PoP idols, while mobile tanks will also be arranged during immersions,” he said.