Eyes on you

Devotees continued to throng Ganesh mandals amid high security in the city after a terror alert. This year,for mandals too security was top priority. At one of the most popular Ganesh mandals,Lalbaugcha Raja,the line of devotees stretched up to as far as Byculla on Sunday evening. “The number of devotees is more than what we had seen last year,” said Suresh Khankar,president of Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. “The Lalbaugcha Raja attracts devotees from Mumbai and outside and the devotion is such that they are unfazed by terror threats,” said Khankar.

At Nikadwari Lane in Girgaum,the mandals have strict instructions against allowing any vehicle inside the lane. “Installation of CCTV cameras is proving to be a tedious job,but with the recent terror alert,we do not have any option. Security is always top priority,” said Tendulkar,president of Nikadwari Lane Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.”

Although the security at Malabar Hill has been stepped up owing to VIP residences in the area,the Ganesh mandals are doing their bit to ensure safety of devotees. “We have hired private security guards for our mandals so that the visitors are assured about the safety here,” said S Shirke,president Malabar Hill Ganeshotsav Mandal Samiti which has 41 mandals under it. For,Barve Nagar Akhil Bhatwadi Mandal at Ghatkopar,this is the first time they are installing CCTVs and metal detectors.”This year,we have our golden jubilee celebrations,so we did not want to take any risk,” said Vilas Chauhan,president of Barve Nagar,Akhil Bhatwadi Ganeshotsav Mandal.