This Ganeshotsav, Kharghar societies vie for best society award

From big mandals to housing societies, every one is keen on celebrating Ganeshotsav in their own way.

The Kharghar Cooperative Housing Society Federation has organised best society competition in Kharghar to motivate residents to have a harmonious celebration.

SH Kalawat, secretary, said, “This is the first time we have organised such a competition in this node. And our aim is to encourage maximum participation by residents. Harmony is the true essence of any festival celebration.

Around 40 societies have registered till now. We have been visiting each society to observe their daily activities and programmes and grade them accordingly.”

The parameters on which the societies will be rated are eco-friendly celebrations; content and quality of the events conducted; participation by society members; social messages spread through programmes, and efforts put in by society’s management committee to promote oneness among residents.

All the participating societies are enthusiastic about the festival, and keen on winning the competition.

Kesar Harmony CHS has been celebrating Ganeshotsav for five years now. Most residents attend the daily programmes organised in the building. “Over 200 residents gather daily to participate in the event. Everybody is involved in the organisation of the events,” said Rachna Saxena, secretary of the cultural committee of Kesar Harmony.

The society held a Ganpati idol-making competition recently. Many children created idols out of clay. A fancy dress competition for children below the age of 12 was held on Thursday based on the save environment theme.

“One of the criteria of the competition is to convey a social message. It was also an opportunity for kids to learn about the importance of saving the nature,” Saxena said.

In Haware Splendor, the focus is to make the programmes as entertaining and fun as possible so that residents have no choice but to join in the celebrations.

“Ganeshotsav is the one time when people from different communities come together, so the focus is to have fun. On Wednesday, we had games for everybody including senior citizens. Another highlight of our society celebration is the Anand Mela, wherein women of the society put up food stalls.

This year, we have organised food tasting competition for the women. Each blindfolded participant will have to guess the ingredients of a dish,” said Swati Tanaji Abhang, treasurer of the society.

The fashion show conducted on the last day is expected to be a major hit, and it is open to anyone above the age of 12.

“People can participate as a couple also. It is endearing to see kids telling older participants what to wear and how to walk the ramp,” she said.