Pune, that way is a pretty progressive over sized village. The people like to think ahead, save for the rainy day, take stands that are pretty forwardish, the topics n treatment in the theatre scene, the newspaper editorials, the opinion leaders and the delta population that thinks, are often avante garde. However, the people who run the municipal establishment, have time and again shown the lack of thinking ahead - point in case - the Ganapati visarjan procession.
Traditionally, there are five most respected Ganapati mandals - which are part of the old city - the areas betwn Kumthekar rd, Laxmi rd, Tilak rd which form the high population density areas, from Alka talkies chowk, till say, Rasta peth and Bhavani peth. Over a period of time, Marathi speaking families have moved out of Laxmi rd area as it became a commercial district. The diaspora went to new suburbs - Kothrud, Sinhgad rd, Satara rd and Aundh.
Every year, the Ganapati procession draws flak from all quarters. Here is how its done. Various mandals from all over the city, finish their final good bye aarti on ninth day in their areas, and bring their decorated mobile display unit with their Ganapati idol to the main city. Then on the tenth day procession begins with the top five, who are followed by the mobile display units of all mandals from all suburbs, depending on their seniority and political pull. All political stooges sit atop a machchan on the final day at Alka chowk and judge the best mobile display which is then rewarded by the PMC.
Reaction seems to be the way of life for PMC, instead of foresight. Think abt it for a minute. As the city grew, the PMC should have empowered the ward offices. Develop those areas - to make roads on all sides wide enough for 10L people who stay in suburbs to commute; separate roads for the out of town heavy vehicle traffic; provision it with self sufficient amenities and services.
Unfortunately, the suburbs grew faster than the PMC could think. If you wanted vegetables, people came to mandai in middle of the city, to buy clothes and gold, people came to Laxmi road, for any concern with electricity, water, property tax bills, you had to travel to the main city. If people wanted anything at all - everyone headed to the city. This is a classic example of centralised power. We want to know everything and we want everyone to know who's the boss.
Look at it from the Ganapati festivities point of view. The local Ganapati mandals collect money from everyone in their localities and the big ones are lucky to get corporate sponsorships - which is then used for two display units - one is static in the mandal which is there for 9 days; and second for the mobile display unit which is mounted on a tractor or truck for the final procession day. Since its a competitive scenario, mandals go out of their way to add more razzmatazz to the mobile units and for the foot soldiers who lead their mobile unit.
Since the procession judged and awarded by the PMC, every mandal wants to take part, making the immersion procession go on for long duration. Sometimes, over two days, putting regular life, traffic and businesses out of synch. I remember, few years back there would be jokes about record number of hours the procession has taken!!
This is where i strike at the PMC - for its vanity, greed and attitude of not letting go of power.
Luckily, we have water bodies flowing thru the heart across the town. What is the need to get all mandals at the central location and putting life at a stand still from Mandai till Deccan? Maybe the competition was good in the good old 80's but it has to change now. The format and the operations have to change. Since 90s when the suburbs became important city centers, why not empower them to have their own immersion processions? Why must they travel on ninth day from wherever they are to the city centre? That means, effectively, you are blocking traffic for one additional day!
I think the mandals should be judged on the static display units by the jury in their own locality. And for gods sake, the criteria of judging should include monitoring the decibel levels, digging of roads, and electricity theft, along with the quality of display. That way, the focus will be on the static display. When we eliminate the central display procession, we use the river that flows across the city to the most optimum level. Yes, there are egos of the top five mandals that don't want anyone to immerse their Ganapati idols before anyone else. Fine, its the communication age!! Once they are done, give a go ahead to all other mandals, who can then go on with their business and not waste entire day - or two standing in queue - getting bored and sometimes drunk before they can actually start their final immersion journey.
Plus, the money earmarked for the mobile display unit can be used for other social or relevant causes in that area.
What is it about having a central immersion procession? Feels like some folks are holding court. The city has burgeoned and with changing times, we need to adapt and evolve. There HAS to be decentralisation of power and decision making. It will be so much more convenient for the police and traffic police to manage 10 one day processions in 25 suburbs; instead of managing the crowds thronging for one massive procession which goes on for over 100 hours!!? If you can discount that type of fatigue in already overworked police force, then please do it!!
And while you are at it, pls make 25 water tanks for 25 different areas near the river and save us from the pictures and videos of broken Ganapati idols in river beds. Make sure the tanks are large enough for idols to dissolve properly. If they are POP idols, immerse them symbolically by dipping them thrice in the tank and keep them on the side. Better still, ask the mandals to take them back - a penalty for using POP idols.
There is a desperate need for the power and accountability to move out. Yes, the ward offices will make mistakes, but its good to make new mistakes than to repeat the same mistake over 25 years.
While the powers that be were busy planning and doing the Pune festival and Pune marathon, the basic operations of the actual festival, have run on auto-pilot mode by copying what happened last year. Pune, which was once known for thinking ahead, now boasts of poor infrastructure, lethargy to risk taking, and and lack of imagination - simply cos no one encouraged it or no one wanted change.
Ganapati is the brainy god. May he give little bit to our leaders, babus and everyone who doesnt want things to change...
Traditionally, there are five most respected Ganapati mandals - which are part of the old city - the areas betwn Kumthekar rd, Laxmi rd, Tilak rd which form the high population density areas, from Alka talkies chowk, till say, Rasta peth and Bhavani peth. Over a period of time, Marathi speaking families have moved out of Laxmi rd area as it became a commercial district. The diaspora went to new suburbs - Kothrud, Sinhgad rd, Satara rd and Aundh.
Every year, the Ganapati procession draws flak from all quarters. Here is how its done. Various mandals from all over the city, finish their final good bye aarti on ninth day in their areas, and bring their decorated mobile display unit with their Ganapati idol to the main city. Then on the tenth day procession begins with the top five, who are followed by the mobile display units of all mandals from all suburbs, depending on their seniority and political pull. All political stooges sit atop a machchan on the final day at Alka chowk and judge the best mobile display which is then rewarded by the PMC.
Reaction seems to be the way of life for PMC, instead of foresight. Think abt it for a minute. As the city grew, the PMC should have empowered the ward offices. Develop those areas - to make roads on all sides wide enough for 10L people who stay in suburbs to commute; separate roads for the out of town heavy vehicle traffic; provision it with self sufficient amenities and services.
Unfortunately, the suburbs grew faster than the PMC could think. If you wanted vegetables, people came to mandai in middle of the city, to buy clothes and gold, people came to Laxmi road, for any concern with electricity, water, property tax bills, you had to travel to the main city. If people wanted anything at all - everyone headed to the city. This is a classic example of centralised power. We want to know everything and we want everyone to know who's the boss.
Look at it from the Ganapati festivities point of view. The local Ganapati mandals collect money from everyone in their localities and the big ones are lucky to get corporate sponsorships - which is then used for two display units - one is static in the mandal which is there for 9 days; and second for the mobile display unit which is mounted on a tractor or truck for the final procession day. Since its a competitive scenario, mandals go out of their way to add more razzmatazz to the mobile units and for the foot soldiers who lead their mobile unit.
Since the procession judged and awarded by the PMC, every mandal wants to take part, making the immersion procession go on for long duration. Sometimes, over two days, putting regular life, traffic and businesses out of synch. I remember, few years back there would be jokes about record number of hours the procession has taken!!
This is where i strike at the PMC - for its vanity, greed and attitude of not letting go of power.
Luckily, we have water bodies flowing thru the heart across the town. What is the need to get all mandals at the central location and putting life at a stand still from Mandai till Deccan? Maybe the competition was good in the good old 80's but it has to change now. The format and the operations have to change. Since 90s when the suburbs became important city centers, why not empower them to have their own immersion processions? Why must they travel on ninth day from wherever they are to the city centre? That means, effectively, you are blocking traffic for one additional day!
I think the mandals should be judged on the static display units by the jury in their own locality. And for gods sake, the criteria of judging should include monitoring the decibel levels, digging of roads, and electricity theft, along with the quality of display. That way, the focus will be on the static display. When we eliminate the central display procession, we use the river that flows across the city to the most optimum level. Yes, there are egos of the top five mandals that don't want anyone to immerse their Ganapati idols before anyone else. Fine, its the communication age!! Once they are done, give a go ahead to all other mandals, who can then go on with their business and not waste entire day - or two standing in queue - getting bored and sometimes drunk before they can actually start their final immersion journey.
Plus, the money earmarked for the mobile display unit can be used for other social or relevant causes in that area.
What is it about having a central immersion procession? Feels like some folks are holding court. The city has burgeoned and with changing times, we need to adapt and evolve. There HAS to be decentralisation of power and decision making. It will be so much more convenient for the police and traffic police to manage 10 one day processions in 25 suburbs; instead of managing the crowds thronging for one massive procession which goes on for over 100 hours!!? If you can discount that type of fatigue in already overworked police force, then please do it!!
And while you are at it, pls make 25 water tanks for 25 different areas near the river and save us from the pictures and videos of broken Ganapati idols in river beds. Make sure the tanks are large enough for idols to dissolve properly. If they are POP idols, immerse them symbolically by dipping them thrice in the tank and keep them on the side. Better still, ask the mandals to take them back - a penalty for using POP idols.
There is a desperate need for the power and accountability to move out. Yes, the ward offices will make mistakes, but its good to make new mistakes than to repeat the same mistake over 25 years.
While the powers that be were busy planning and doing the Pune festival and Pune marathon, the basic operations of the actual festival, have run on auto-pilot mode by copying what happened last year. Pune, which was once known for thinking ahead, now boasts of poor infrastructure, lethargy to risk taking, and and lack of imagination - simply cos no one encouraged it or no one wanted change.
Ganapati is the brainy god. May he give little bit to our leaders, babus and everyone who doesnt want things to change...
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