Vijayawada: The Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College, the centre of cultural activities in the city, is set to be the main venue of Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations in Andhra Pradesh this year. The newly formed Doondi Ganesh Seva Samithi is installing a huge 63-feet high Thandava Ganesh idol on the premises of the music college for the festival.





According to the Samithi, the idol to be made of clay and other eco-friendly material is four feet taller than the iconic Khairatabad Ganesh idol (59 feet). Interestingly, artisans making the two gigantic Ganesh idols hail from the same group from Coimbatore. Speaking to The Hans India, Doondi Ganesh Seva Samithi founder Parepalli Rajesh said, “We have decided to install a huge Ganesh idol to get a special recognition for Vijayawada, a major pilgrim centre in Andhra Pradesh, by organising Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations in a big way.





Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country during Devi Navaratri festivities. In the same manner, the city is expected to become a major pilgrim attraction for Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations in the State post bifurcation with the installation of a huge Ganesh idol on a regular basis.’’





Giving the cost and other details of the devotional project, he said, “The idol is estimated to cost Rs 1.2 crore. As of now, industrialist Koganti Satyanarayana and some other philanthropists have offered donations for the idol installation. More than 50 artisans have been working round-the-clock since the launch of the idol installation project on July 12.





About 70 tonnes of black soil brought from a lake at Velagaleru village, 25 tonnes of Bombay clay, 25 tonnes of iron, 30 tonnes of wood, 1.2 tonnes of coir and a minimum quantity of Plaster of Paris will be used to make the idol. As Vinayaka Chavithi (September 17) is fast approaching, 40 more artisans have been engaged to ready the idol by September 12.''





Elaborating on other arrangements, Rajesh said, “A huge Sivalingam and four idols of Goddess Lakshmi (Ashtalakshmi) will also be installed on either side of Thandava Ganesh. Pujas and other rituals will be performed to a 9-ft idol to be set up beside the main Ganesh idol during the 11-day festival.





Vedic scholar Parasaram Pattabhi Ramacharyulu will perform the rituals to the deities during the festival days. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with his family members will worship Lord Ganesh at the venue on Vinayaka Chavithi.''As immersion of the huge Ganesh idol in the Krishna river as per the tradition is a difficult task, the organisers have come up with an innovative idea.





As part of immersion ceremony, fire tenders will be deployed at the venue on September 27 to jet water from cannons at the clay idol which will result in its melt down. The novel ‘immersion’ will be done after performing Navabhishekam to the idol.Annadanam will be organised to mark the immersion ceremony. Cultural programmes will be held during the festival days, he added.





6,300 kg Tapeswaram laddu The Doondi Ganesh Seva Samithi has ordered a 6,300 kg laddu from Tapeswaram in East Godavari district to adorn the huge Ganesh idol. The gigantic laddu will reach the city a day before Vinayaka Chavithi. The laddu will be auctioned on the last day of the festival celebrations. The successful bidder will distribute the laddu as Prasadam to devotees.





By:Sistla Dakshina Murthy