Ganesh Mandals

The finance ministry’s decision on these exemptions came early this month. The decision could be viewed as partial relief for decorators, who initiated a countrywide protest following the finance ministry’s decision to bring them under the tax net. Decorators claimed that an 10.2% service tax would spell doom for the industry and put a burden on the customers.

“Every year, Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals spend anywhere between Rs 1 lakh-Rs 25 lakh on decorations for their pandals. The themes could range from issues as diverse as current affairs, politics and religious themes, to elaborate and ornate replicas of ancient monuments,” says HB Borhade, who works under renowned set designer Nitin Desai of ‘Lagaan’ fame. The pandal decorators usually go all out with their thematic embellishments during the Ganesh festival. “The costs associated with these decorations are very high. Not only do you have to bring raw materials from other states like Gujarat, but also have to pay high fees to artisans. The expenditure also includes extra additions such as sound and lights. The 10.2% service tax would only make it worse”, said a pandal decorator.

The teams will visit the Ganesh mandals at least once everyday and extensive video shooting will be done. "If required we will deploy more video cameras on the immersion day", Deshmukh stated.

He said that the chief electoral officer of the state has issued clear and specific instructions about the conduct of candidates and political parties during the Ganesh festival. The public place where Ganesh festival is celebrated should not be used for election propaganda and candidates or political party leaders should not deliver speeches at these places.

• The occasion shall not be used for distributing articles like utensils, books, notebooks, saris etc at the hands of candidates or political leaders.
• No sign, election symbol, name and flag of any political party or candidate shall be displayed.
• If a political leader was traditionally the chief promoter, sponsor or trustee of any Ganesh mandal his name can be displayed only on one banner at the main entrance. Way has also been cleared for the financial assistance to be given by the Pune Municipal Corporation to city MP Suresh Kalmadi's Pune festival. The electoral officer has clarified that if bodies like municipal corporations have been donating money or awards for the traditional Ganesh festival, it would be allowed.
• No music with political overtures or pre-recorded political speeches should be played by mandals. Mandals will not be allowed to display tableaux which may cause tension or enmity amongst various caste and communities, religious or linguistic groups or create political controversy. However tableaux on the life of Veer Savarkar or putting up of his portrait will be permitted provided no political comment or slogan was displayed alongwith the same. Local police will monitor the tableaux put up by mandals.

The police said many mandals had begun erecting pandals before getting permission from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and traffic police.

• Of the 2,642 mandals that will participate in the festival this year, only
• 253 have applied for the No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the traffic police.
• NOCs have been granted to 129.