Playing for nature; with nature

Ganesha fest promotes environment-friendly behaviour

 
The entrance to the celebrations on the premises of the Government Higher Primary School at Katharipalya was designed like a Ram Mandir.

Inside is a special tableau. There are several idols of deer, bears, chimpanzees and lions playing football with a group of Ganeshas.

The football teams are complete, including 22 players and umpires.

Old and new

Moving further, one meets a huge idol of Kalabhairaveshwara stamping down a Rakshasa, with a roaring waterfall behind.

All of these give onlookers a feeling of both the conventional and the unusual.
The Visvesvaraya Ganesha Samiti has always stood out for its unique plots for Ganeshotsava celebrations, year after year.

The special set-up for this year’s celebrations has cost the Samiti about Rs four lakh and 20-days of hardwork.

Special designers

As per the wishes of the Visvesvaraya Ganesha Samiti , the setting of Kalabhairaveshwara and the waterfall were designed by Chandrashekhar and his team from Kolkata.

Ramakrishna and his team from Chennai modelled the main gate after the Ram Mandir.

‘Environment-friendly’

Ganesha playing football, however, is what practically overshadows everything else.
The tableau was designed to send a message about concern for the environment as well as nature.

It also tries to speak about love for wild animals and also sportsman spirit.
Madhusudan, Om Shakti Chalapati, Ramesh, Amarnath, Gangadhar and others took charge of the celebrations.