Kolkata: More than 100 khuti pujas for Ganesh Chaturthi conducted on Monday in areas such as Salt Lake, New Town, Lake Town, Burrabazar and South Kolkata, setting rolled balls for the celebration season.
At Kumartuli, the porners have received stable orders for Goddians who signify good luck and prosperity, though, the committee has reduced idol size and celebration due to a pandemic.
Orders originating from housing complexes or cooperatives have increased marginally because of safety guidelines for Covid-19.
Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on September 10 this year.
Salt Lake Maitri Sangha organizes Khuti Puja on Monday.
Puja that takes place near the Salt Lake swimming pool every year is held by residents of BF and CF together.
“Since Janmashtami is a favorable day so we have huti puja today.
The work on the pandal will begin on Tuesday and so on and the god will be taken next week,” said Kripa Shankar Sharma, club president.
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The last 10 to 12 years has witnessed a steep increase in the number of Ganesh pujas in the city.
Previously there would be no more than 100 to 150 ganesh pujas in the city and most of them were in bags such as Burrabazar, Posta, SN Banerjee Road, Kankurgachi and Bangur.
But now there are almost 1,000 to 1,200 ganesh pujas every year.
One of the main reasons behind popularity is increased prayer for prosperity not only among business classes but even those who are assisted and manufacturing.
Another big reason is the active role of politicians have started playing.
“The top pujas durga in the city is led by frontline politicians from the ruling party.
But those who are second and third, also need to mobilize their workers but do not have a budget.
So they began organizing their own pujas ganesh,” said a TMC leader who Organizing a large Puja Ganesh in South Kolkata.
This year, more housing communities have decided to regulate Puja, since visiting the community may be a problem because of Covid-19 safety guidelines.
Many gated communities that have arranged Ganesh Chaturthi have got all their members vaccinated before preparing.
“We have 405 apartments in housing and everyone has been fully vaccinated.
Preparation for the festival will begin on Tuesday,” said Paramita Adhikari, Cultural Secretary of Greenwood Sonata in New Town.
“Because the guidelines for pandemics and safety, we will involve very few people in the settings and all the norms will be followed.”