Nashik: Ganeshotsav Begins Across City With Grand Idol Installations, Festive Fervour

Nashik celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm on Monday, September 14, as the city welcomed its beloved Bappa with grand idol installations and festive fervor. The installation ceremony took place during the auspicious Madhyanha period, between 11:20 am and 1:50 pm, according to the traditional almanac. An estimated three lakh families in Nashik will celebrate the 10 to 12 days of Ganeshotsav.

Markets and public places were bustling with activity as devotees came to purchase idols, decorations, flowers, modaks, and puja materials. Online platforms and quick-commerce services saw an increase in orders for idols and decorations, with many mandals welcoming Bappa with attractive thematic displays, elaborate lighting, and traditional musical instruments.

Public Ganesh mandals applied for mandap permissions from the Municipal Corporation, which waived fees for mandaps and stages, easing the burden on the community groups. Notably, one mandal installed a magnificent Ganesh idol made of 201 kg of silver, drawing attention with its opulence.

The festivities were further enhanced by dhol-tasha processions, aarti rituals, and the distribution of modaks in households across the city. In anticipation of the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela, certain groups are organizing public awareness programs. The Municipal Corporation has made special preparations for the main immersion procession, scheduled for September 25, Anant Chaturdashi, ensuring road conditions, preventing waterlogging, and maintaining an uninterrupted power supply throughout Ganeshotsav.