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MUMBAI: The optimism of Indian chief executives isn't the only indicator of
confidence in the economy. The worst slowdown in 10 years is unlikely to dent the
pomp and circumstance of the annual Ganesh festival in Mumbai.
The celebrations are going to be as big as ever, says Ashok Bhandari, who
organises a Ganesh mandal in the Dadar area of Mumbai.
"Getting funding for the Ganesh festival has never been a problem," he says. "Even
during recession it is not an issue." Ganesh Chaturthi marks the beginning of the
festive season Eid, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas are all coming up.
The next few months until the new year could translate into the resurgence predicted
in Thursday's ET CEO Confidence Survey, in which more than 40% respondents saw
growth and the rupee reviving.
The reasons for this buoyancy? Faith and hope, at least going by the expectations
for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Indians don't stint when it comes to religious events or rituals. Second, with
elections coming up, political parties are keen on funding public celebrations, even
if they don't always get the mileage they want.
"We had so many requests from local politicians this year to put up their banners in
our pandals," Bhandari says. "We took a conscious decision to not accept such
banners yet they have funded our pandals."
Besides this, contributions to the mandal from local households anything from Rs
50 to Rs 500 haven't dropped.
"Since people feel they are sentimentally attached to the idol and the prayers that
are held annually in the pandal close to their home, they would continue to
contribute this fund even during an economic slowdown," says Mandar Paranjpe, a
resident of Pune who has kept up with his Ganesh contribution.
More than 2,000 Ganesh Mandals registered as public organisations in Maharashtra
will celebrate the festival either at roadside pandals or local grounds.
Budgets are boosted by a spirit of competition among neighbourhoods and
spending by the richer mandals can be in lakhs, even going up to as much as Rs 2
crore. Total turnover estimates are difficult to pin down but are generally held to be
in the region of about Rs 200 crore for the 10-day festival in the state. About 10%
of the mandals are based in Mumbai and its suburbs, with the main contributors
being small traders, businessmen, residents and politicians.
"Since this is a pre-election period, there is no doubt that the sponsorship from
politicians will be at a higher level than usual," says MP Bharatkumar Raut , who's
closely associated with Mumbai's famous Siddhivinayak temple trust. Though
donation amounts are not revealed, it's estimated that political party leaders
distribute up to Rs 2 crore to various mandals. Among the more generous political
contributors are state ministers Narayan Rane and Chhagan Bhujbal, besides
several MPs.
"But even small businessmen and traders are enthusiastic when it comes to the
Ganesh festival," says Raut. "Religious festivals are isolated from the nation's
economic condition. People will not cut costs when it comes to religious
celebrations. So, despite the economic slowdown, now you see a cheerful
environment around the Ganesh festival. This may continue till Diwali."
Mumbai's Lal Baug Cha Raja, one of the biggest Ganesh mandals in the city, is
visited by more than 8 lakh people daily during the festival. Most of the devotees
present cash or ornaments to the idol. Similarly, the mandals of Pune's Dagdusheth
Halwai and Sion's GSB also draw large crowds traditionally.
But the corporate world may not fully believe that highpitch celebrations of Ganesh
festival necessarily mean that consumers are ready to spend like earlier. "We want
prosperity to return, so when things are bad sometimes we hold special prayers to
turn things around but right now there is only hope that we could have bottomed
out", said Rashesh Shah, chairman, Edelweiss group.
Given that the various displays often reflect contemporary events, the state of the
economy and the fall of the rupee are likely to be part of the tableaus that are
presented this year.
The festival begins on September 9 and is scheduled to end on September 19, with
the immersion of the Ganesh idols in the sea on the same day.
While all of Mumbai will come to a complete halt on that day, spare a thought for
the people who will be working the hardest the police, one group that would have
been happy if the celebrations were more muted than usual this year. That being
unlikely, they're preparing for an intense 10-day stretch during which they'll need to
use all their skills to control surging crowds.
Security cover has also become important because, over the last few years, the
Ganesh festival in Maharashtra has come on the radar of terrorist groups, with
thousands of devotees taking part in prayers and processions in the open. "We have
to make special arrangements for the procession and we deploy all our police force
on the ground during the 10-day event. There have been examples of some officers
being on duty constantly for 30 hours. We do everything to ensure a peaceful
festival," says state home minister RR Patil.
The glamour quotient also drives interest in the Ganesh festival, particularly
because of Bollywood's participation. RK Studio, established by the late Raj Kapoor,
traditionally hosts a Ganesh puja. This year's celebrations at the studio are being
spearheaded by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, Raj Kapoor's grandson. Stars such
as Amitabh Bachchan and Jitendra are also known to be enthusiastic participants.
Ganesh Chaturthi festivities turn economic slowdown into a myth - The Economic Times on Mobile .
confidence in the economy. The worst slowdown in 10 years is unlikely to dent the
pomp and circumstance of the annual Ganesh festival in Mumbai.
The celebrations are going to be as big as ever, says Ashok Bhandari, who
organises a Ganesh mandal in the Dadar area of Mumbai.
"Getting funding for the Ganesh festival has never been a problem," he says. "Even
during recession it is not an issue." Ganesh Chaturthi marks the beginning of the
festive season Eid, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas are all coming up.
The next few months until the new year could translate into the resurgence predicted
in Thursday's ET CEO Confidence Survey, in which more than 40% respondents saw
growth and the rupee reviving.
The reasons for this buoyancy? Faith and hope, at least going by the expectations
for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Indians don't stint when it comes to religious events or rituals. Second, with
elections coming up, political parties are keen on funding public celebrations, even
if they don't always get the mileage they want.
"We had so many requests from local politicians this year to put up their banners in
our pandals," Bhandari says. "We took a conscious decision to not accept such
banners yet they have funded our pandals."
Besides this, contributions to the mandal from local households anything from Rs
50 to Rs 500 haven't dropped.
"Since people feel they are sentimentally attached to the idol and the prayers that
are held annually in the pandal close to their home, they would continue to
contribute this fund even during an economic slowdown," says Mandar Paranjpe, a
resident of Pune who has kept up with his Ganesh contribution.
More than 2,000 Ganesh Mandals registered as public organisations in Maharashtra
will celebrate the festival either at roadside pandals or local grounds.
Budgets are boosted by a spirit of competition among neighbourhoods and
spending by the richer mandals can be in lakhs, even going up to as much as Rs 2
crore. Total turnover estimates are difficult to pin down but are generally held to be
in the region of about Rs 200 crore for the 10-day festival in the state. About 10%
of the mandals are based in Mumbai and its suburbs, with the main contributors
being small traders, businessmen, residents and politicians.
"Since this is a pre-election period, there is no doubt that the sponsorship from
politicians will be at a higher level than usual," says MP Bharatkumar Raut , who's
closely associated with Mumbai's famous Siddhivinayak temple trust. Though
donation amounts are not revealed, it's estimated that political party leaders
distribute up to Rs 2 crore to various mandals. Among the more generous political
contributors are state ministers Narayan Rane and Chhagan Bhujbal, besides
several MPs.
"But even small businessmen and traders are enthusiastic when it comes to the
Ganesh festival," says Raut. "Religious festivals are isolated from the nation's
economic condition. People will not cut costs when it comes to religious
celebrations. So, despite the economic slowdown, now you see a cheerful
environment around the Ganesh festival. This may continue till Diwali."
Mumbai's Lal Baug Cha Raja, one of the biggest Ganesh mandals in the city, is
visited by more than 8 lakh people daily during the festival. Most of the devotees
present cash or ornaments to the idol. Similarly, the mandals of Pune's Dagdusheth
Halwai and Sion's GSB also draw large crowds traditionally.
But the corporate world may not fully believe that highpitch celebrations of Ganesh
festival necessarily mean that consumers are ready to spend like earlier. "We want
prosperity to return, so when things are bad sometimes we hold special prayers to
turn things around but right now there is only hope that we could have bottomed
out", said Rashesh Shah, chairman, Edelweiss group.
Given that the various displays often reflect contemporary events, the state of the
economy and the fall of the rupee are likely to be part of the tableaus that are
presented this year.
The festival begins on September 9 and is scheduled to end on September 19, with
the immersion of the Ganesh idols in the sea on the same day.
While all of Mumbai will come to a complete halt on that day, spare a thought for
the people who will be working the hardest the police, one group that would have
been happy if the celebrations were more muted than usual this year. That being
unlikely, they're preparing for an intense 10-day stretch during which they'll need to
use all their skills to control surging crowds.
Security cover has also become important because, over the last few years, the
Ganesh festival in Maharashtra has come on the radar of terrorist groups, with
thousands of devotees taking part in prayers and processions in the open. "We have
to make special arrangements for the procession and we deploy all our police force
on the ground during the 10-day event. There have been examples of some officers
being on duty constantly for 30 hours. We do everything to ensure a peaceful
festival," says state home minister RR Patil.
The glamour quotient also drives interest in the Ganesh festival, particularly
because of Bollywood's participation. RK Studio, established by the late Raj Kapoor,
traditionally hosts a Ganesh puja. This year's celebrations at the studio are being
spearheaded by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, Raj Kapoor's grandson. Stars such
as Amitabh Bachchan and Jitendra are also known to be enthusiastic participants.
Ganesh Chaturthi festivities turn economic slowdown into a myth - The Economic Times on Mobile .
