Ganesha comes home to a curtailed budget

MUMBAI: The slump in the economy has taken a toll on the upcoming 10-day Ganeshotsav festival that begins on September 2 this year. On Monday, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, the umbrella body of close to 10,000 mandals in the city, said they have received approximately 25% less funds this year in comparison with previous years. Even city jewellers have reported a drop of at least 50% in ornament orders for Ganesh idols this year.

Samiti president Naresh Dahibavkar said there were a number of reasons for the shrinkage in donations; inflation was the primary one. He also pointed to fewer advertisements from local traders.

Some organisers said more than advertisers, it is local residents who have tightened their purse strings. “Many households are struggling to make ends meet. Where previously a family would donate Rs 2,000 to a mandal in their area, it’s now offering Rs 1,000,” said Girish Walwalkar, secretary of the samiti.

“Commercial advertisers, too, have chosen to reduce the size of their advertisements. But we respect the fact that they still voluntarily contribute towards the festivities,” said Walwalkar.

Dahibavkar, though, said mandals are hopeful that the economic downturn will not dampen the festive spirit.

“Emotions run so high, especially in several decades-old mandals, that organizers will have to chip in money from their own salaries to ensure the festival is celebrated with as much fervour. People wait for a year for the festival to return and want to give it their best,” he said.

When asked whether corporators, MLAs and MPs contribute towards the festivities, Walwalkar said most of them have their own pandals in their respective areas and therefore may not always contribute towards other mandals in the locality.

Some mandal organizers said following the cash crunch in the aftermath of demonetization almost three years ago, they had stopped visiting traders for donations. They have noticed that traders whose businesses had taken a hit have been refraining from contributing ever since.

Amar Khamkar, whose spice shop is located beside the lane of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal, said, “We have three large Ganesh celebrations in Lalbaug—Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Gully and Tejukaya. Naturally, we cannot contribute to all. My family consists of 16 people so I donate Rs 100 per person which amounts to Rs 1,600, to Lalbaugcha Raja. I do not think local cash contributions have reduced because residents who donate money also avail of year-round medical benefits, educational incentives and scholarships from the mandal. Yes, the advertisement banners from small businesses and corporates are fewer owing to the current economic slowdown .”

Then there are some such as GSB Seva Mandal at King’s Circle—the richest in the city—that say they have not witnessed any impact on its donations. “Finally, it is a festival where people voluntarily contribute if they want to. We have only seen an increase in our puja collections and there has been no impact on our festivities,” said Satish Nayak, spokesperson of the mandal.

On the expenses, the 43-year-old Sahyadri Krida Mandal of Tilak Nagar, Chembur, estimates its total expenditure this Ganeshotsav to average Rs 20-25 lakh. Spokesman Jaya Shetty said, “Our 6.5-foot idol costs Rs 31,000. The rest of the expense is incurred on the pandal, lighting, decoration, devotee facilities, prasad and our aagman and visarjan processions. This year, we have donated Rs 2 lakh towards CM’s Relief Fund. Since three years, we are incurring additional expenditure in building a makeshift pandal because the Samaj Mandir hall, where we traditionally hosted our celebration, has been demolished. We are therefore forced to spend Rs 7-8 lakh in building a pandal, waterproofing it and then demolishing it after the festival. We are hoping the hall is rebuilt quickly by the authorities so we can save that amount.”

