National capital welcomes Bappa with grandeur, devotion

The Capital reverberated with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” on Wednesday as Ganesh Chaturthi festivities commenced with grandeur, devotion and cultural vibrancy across the city.

At Laxmi Nagar, the 24th Delhi Ka Maharaja Ganesh Mahotsav — organised by Shri Ganesh Seva Mandal — began with a spectacular Kalash Shobha Yatra from the ancient Bamb Mahadev Temple to the DDA Mini Cricket Ground. Amid beats of dhols and drums, as many as 108 women dressed in traditional Rajasthani and Maharashtrian attire joined devotees in the colourful procession. The idol of Lord Ganesha was installed with Vedic rituals led by Pandit Bharat Pandey of Banaras in the presence of Swami Shri Rajendra Das Devacharya Ji Maharaj, who later performed the Maha Aarti.

Founder-president Mahendra Ladda said the mandal had been organising the mahotsav for 23 years, adding that it was not only one of the most significant festivals of the Capital but also among the most popular Ganesh celebrations in the country. Alongside religious events, the festival also promotes social causes such as blood donation, free health camps, cow protection, eco-friendly immersions and marriages of underprivileged girls.

This year’s pandal highlights “Operation Sindoor” and “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” with models of Akash and Agni missiles and the Tejas fighter jet as major attractions.

President Anand Goyal underlined that the immersion of idols is done in specially constructed tanks at the pandal to avoid pollution of the Yamuna. “The same water is later used for plantation drives, ensuring service to both God and nature,” he said. Free health camps, blood donation drives and mammography tests will also be held during the five-day festival, General Secretary Nishant Agarwal added.

CM Rekha Gupta also joined in the celebration by visiting Shri Ganesh Mandir at Connaught Place and later participating in celebrations at North Avenue and Teen Murti. She offered prayers for peace, progress and prosperity in Delhi and the nation. She said it inspires people to move forward together on the path of development.

The festive spirit further extended to the cultural sphere, with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) inaugurating a special exhibition titled ‘Vighneshwara Kutumb: Ganesh and His Family’. Showcasing sculptures from the Lance Dane collection, dating between the 12th and 20th centuries, along with paintings by artist K Viswanathan, the exhibition highlights the artistic legacy of Lord Ganesha. “The purpose of such exhibitions is to connect the younger generation with our cultural heritage,” said IGNCA president Ram Bahadur Rai.