Ganesh Chaturthi: Protection for Lalbaugcha Raja

Ganesh Chaturthi beginning on Thursday is the biggest festival in Maharashtra and Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the oldest and the most popular mandals in the metropolis attracting around one crore devotees including filmstars and politicians following which tight arrangements have been made.

"It has been noticed that every year before the Ganesh festival some untoward incident takes place. To ensure a safe festival we have enhanced our security this time. We have deployed 300 private guards, last year there were 200. Also, the number of CCTV cameras have been increased from 35 to around 70," Lalbaugcha Raja President Ashok Pawar told PTI.

The mandal has also secured an insurance policy worth Rs 14 crore in case of any eventuality.

"The mandal has been insured for Rs 14 crore, an increase of Rs four crores. Devotees have been insured for Rs five crores, last year the insurance cover for them was Rs 3 crore. For jewelery of the deity Rs six crores have been kept aside; Last year it was Rs four crore. The insurance cover for pandal remains same--Rs three crore," Pawar said.

Last year, the mandal had erected an air-conditioned pavilion for devotees but this time it has been withdrawn.

"To enable better circulation of air we had installed ACs. But the effect was not cooling and there were suffocation complaints. We have put of lot of fans this year," he said.

The organisers have reduced the height of the stage from 3 ft to 1.5 ft. "We have done this for devotees so that they find it easier to touch the deity and seek his blessings," he said.