Opinion: Ganpati Mandals Need To Rediscover Their Social Purpose
When the British ruled India, public gatherings were often restricted. It was against this backdrop that Ganesh Chaturthi was transformed into a public festival. It not only brought people together through religion but also became a vehicle for social unity. Over the decades, Ganeshotsav became much more than a festival. Ganpati mandals became spaces where communities came together and, more…
The British colonial rule in India once imposed restrictions on public gatherings. It was in this context that Ganesh Chaturthi was reimagined as a public festival. This transformation served a dual purpose: it fostered social unity among people and elevated Ganeshotsav beyond mere religious observance. Over time, Ganpati mandals evolved into spaces where communities congregated and, more crucially, where ideas could be shared with a broader audience.
For numerous years, the decorations adorning Ganpati mandals mirrored the pressing issues of the society they represented. Female foeticide, women's safety, farmer suicides, drought, famine, water scarcity, pollution, and the importance of girls' education were all vividly depicted through artistic displays. As people paused to observe these installations, they were compelled to contemplate the problems presented, even if only for a fleeting moment.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
