Curbs on dhol-tashas may bring down immersion duration

The police have already asked the Ganesh mandals and dhol-tasha groups to restrict the number of dhols to 40 and tashas to 10 per group during the immersion procession.

Speaking to Newsline,Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol said the procession time could come down due to restricted number of dhols and tashas provided Ganesh mandals cooperate. “Apart from procession time,our concern is also to ensure that immersion processions end on a peaceful note,” he said.

Nitin Pandit,treasurer of Tulshibag Ganapati,hailed as fourth ‘Manacha’ Ganapati among five,said overall procession time could reduce to certain extent this year with the curb on dhol-tasha groups. “Our mandal has reduced the number of dhol-tasha groups to three from last year’s five. All five ‘Manache’ Ganapati are expected to follow the suit. We have also asked our dhol-tasha groups not to stop and perform at every chowk,” he said.

Meanwhile,adequate arrangements are in place at different immersion ghats on the eve of Anant Chaturdashi,which marks the last day of the 10-day Ganeshotsav. There are 3,950-plus registered ganesh mandals in Pune and Pimri-Chinchwad,over 500 more than last year. In Pimpri-Chinchwad,immersion procession takes place separately at different designated places.

The immersion procession of Kasba Ganpati,‘manacha’ first,is expected to begin at 9 am on Wednesday. A dhol-tasha group of Ramanbaug and Kamayani groups and brass-band by Prabhat along with special group spreading awareness about voting will be some of the key attractions of procession.

It will proceed from Jijamata Chowk,Shanipar and Mandai areas before reaching immersion ghat. The procession of Tambadi Jogeshwari Ganapati,second ‘manacha’ will take place in silver palanquin with dhol-tasha group of Shivmudra and brass-band of New Gandharva among other arrangements.

Shivgarjana and Nadbrahma dhol-tasha groups will be the attraction of Guruji Talim Ganapati,manacha third,while special 25 kilogram silver-made table would add glitter to immersion of Tulshibaug Ganapati.

Immersion procession of Kesariwada Ganapati will take place in traditional palanquin. Like last year it will pass through Laxmi Road instead of Tilak Road due to security reason.