Kadma gears up for Ganesh Puja

A lotus-shaped pandal, elaborate security measures and an overdose of entertainment. Jamshedpur residents can expect all this and more at city's most popular Ganesh Puja Mahotsav in Kadma from August 25.

Organised by social outfit Sree Bala Ganapati Vilas, the 17-day mahotsav turns 99 this year.

Chief minister Raghubar Das will inaugurate the festival on August 25 while former chief minister Arjun Munda will be present at the venue on August 24.

The fair, comprising 150 stalls, will be inaugurated by Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato on August 25. The mahotsav will conclude on September 17 with a grand immersion procession.

The organisers on Wednesday said their prime concern was to have a safe puja.

"The mahotsav attracts a huge crowd over a span of 17 days. We are making elaborate arrangements to ensure security of visitors. Besides policemen and volunteers provided by the district administration, we have also roped in private security agencies to ward off criminals and other anti-social elements," said B. Bapujee, president of Shree Bala Ganapati Vilas.

Elaborating further on the security arrangements, Bapujee said as many as 12 CCTV cameras would be installed at various strategic locations of the ground. Moreover adequate arrangements would be made to tackle any fire mishaps. "There will be police assistance booths and first-aid centres on the fair grounds," he added.

The five-feet fence, which was put up at Ganesh Puja grounds by Jusco last year, has four gates that will remain open for visitors from 4.30pm till midnight during the festival.

General secretary of Shree Bala Ganapati Vilas Y.K. Sharma said they had kept aside a budget of Rs 15 lakh for the grand celebrations. "We are trying to make the mahotsav both entertaining and safe," said Sharma.

This year the pandal, having the usual 60-feet height and 50-feet width, has been designed in the shape of a lotus. The fair will have unique rides like Ranger, a Ferris wheel set up by a Bengal-based agency, and Water Bolt, a swing for children.

Bhoomi pujan, which marks the beginning of the pandal work and other preparations, was performed at the grounds on July 24.