Mumbai: After according the status of the state festival to Ganeshostav, the government is pulling out all stops to ensure that the 10-day festival is an extravaganza. Apart from the exciting lineup of competitions and arrangement for e-darshan of popular Ganesh temples and sarvajanik mandals, the government will extend Rs 5 crore grants to recognised bhajan mandals and distribute Rs 1.5 crore in prizes to the best Ganesh mandals. All the state wings concerned will utilise funds available with them for the fiscal 2025-26, read the government resolution issued on Thursday.
Revealing the plans to make Ganeshostav a spectacular event, the government on Thursdayannounced that a digital platform will also be created where people can upload photos of the Ganesh idols installed at home.
Besides, the directorate of cultural affairs, the P L Deshpande Kala Academy, Dadasaheb Phalke Film City (Goregaon) and all the collectors have been asked to ensure that the festival is a grand success. Each of them have been given a list of tasks cut out for them.
The collectors across the state have been asked to appoint committees at the district and taluka levels for the best Ganesh mandals event. The panels will visit the participating mandals, grade them accordingly and submit the results to the P L Deshpande Kala Academy.
Meanwhile, the P L Deshpande Kala Academy will host the best Ganesh mandal competition at the taluka, district and state levels – in which 480 mandals will be given prizes worth Rs1.5 crore. The Academy has also been asked to host a series of lectures at the state-level and to develop a portal for e-darshan of famous Ganesh temples and mandals. A national publicity campaign will be undertaken by the academy. Apart from overseeing the immersion processions in their respective districts, the collectors will also organise prize distribution ceremonies and illumination of important public places.
Similarly, the directorate of cultural affairs will earmark Rs5 crore aid for the recognised bhajan mandals and take the initiative to promote the festival at the national and international level. It will host a drama based on spirituality and organise drone shows in state's major cities. A special postal stamp and commemorative coin will also be released by the directorate. The film city will host cultural events and organise a reel competition across the state. It will honour Marathi movies, which have shown the festival on a grand scale.
