Drought, price hike fail to subdue people's enthusiasm

Celebrations, preparations continue in full flow for festival today

Residents of the City are in a scramble to prepare for festivities a day before Ganesha Chathurthi.

Members of organisations set up the idols purchased days ago in their wards for public celebrations. Citizens were seen carrying smaller idols to their houses. Decorations of public and home idols were on.

For many residents, the ravages of drought and steep rise in the prices of idols have not cooled their loyalty to tradition or devotion to Lord Ganesha. “A festival is a time to keep aside all sorrow and celebrate life. Regardless of the troubles, we turn enthusiastic, in all genuineness, to such an occasion,” said Sowbhagyamma.

She added that despite troubles of the community, all worries will be shelved during festivities. “We invite friends and family to our houses. We worship the trouble-shooter Lord Ganesha together and share our joys and sorrows,” she explained. “The arrival of guests lightens the mood in our homes and makes our sorrows much more bearable.
Their arrival also makes us relate to the ancient notion of the guest being a form of the Almighty. The festival brings in enough happiness to stand up against any trouble all through the year.”

In Gauribidanur

Organisers in the town and various villages in the taluk have put up pandals and installed idols for public celebrations.

The drought and price hike have scaled down the intensity of celebrations. As the number of statues purchased this years was also much lower than before, social workers were urged to distribute idols for free to each home.

Many residents relished the opportunity to put aside woes for a few days. “Why dampen the festive spirit when you get just one chance a year? The celebrations might not reach sky high and we have had to even budget our expenses. But installing idols at home makes our children happy,” said Satyanarayana, a resident of the town.

But another resident, Ramalakshmamma admitted that the festive mood had been affected by the price of commodities. “The rates of vegetables has reduced, but the rates of flowers and fruits have doubled. Marigold costs Rs 50 a kg, kanakambara is Rs 700 to Rs 1,000, chrysanthemum costs Rs 80 to Rs 100, jasmine is Rs 500 to Rs 600. The new rates have forced us to cut down on our purchases,” she said.