Ganpati mandals in Mumbai to have more women priests

Sarvajanik Ganpati mandals in the island city are likely to have more women priests (purohits) to conduct religious rituals this year.

Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil, who is the guardian minister of Mumbai city, told reporters today that the mandal representatives, who met him earlier in the day, informed him that they were facing shortage of purohits. There are only 3,000 purohits at present in the city.

The coordination committee of the mandals had organised training sessions for purohits and a large number of women had enrolled for the courses.

This year mandals are taking extra precautions on the security front during the Ganesh festival in view of the July 13 triple bomb blasts in the metropolis. The ten-day festival begins from September 1.

More than 50 per cent of the mandals (who set up pandals with Ganesh idols at public places) have decided to install CCTVs in their premises to monitor the flow of devotees. Besides, mandals will take up causes of female foeticide and tobacco-related diseases, among others, through tableaux, paintings and decorations at the pandals.

Closure of liquor bars and permit rooms on visarjan (idol immersion) days, streamling vehicle parking and filling up potholes before August 24 were some of the issues discussed in the meeting, the minister said.

Mandals have been asked to install eco-friendly idols to avoid pollution. Last year there were 1.19 lakh idols in the city, Patil added.