Ganeshotsav 2012: Here is a unique problem, for free

Despite assurances by prestigious and major mandals to complete the immersion procession before Sunday noon, the willingness of increased number of ‘novice’ dhol-tasha troupes to show their skill for free has posed a big question mark before the former’s resolve.

The city has seen a steep rise in the number of dhol-tasha troupes with the figure touching more than 80 in the past seven-eight years. Even as popular troupes like Shiv Garjana, Nadbrahma and Samarth get orders from major mandals, new ones look for proper platforms and mandals to get an audience.

The efforts to display their talent has resulted in many of the troupes approaching Bhau Rangari Mandal, the first Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in the country, to participate in its immersion procession for free.

Till Thursday night, the Bhau Rangari Mandal has received requests from 13 such ‘young’ troupes.

The immersion procession of Mandai and Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati follows Bhau Rangari Ganapati.

Expressing concern, Akhil Mandai Mandal president Anna Thorat said, “If at all Bhau Rangari Ganapati invites more number of dhol-tasha troupes, each of them would try to play their speciality items and it would delay the immersion procession.”

Thorat said that Mandai mandal would deploy Shiv Garjana and Shaurya dhol-tasha troupes, but made it clear to Shaurya that they would be playing for them only for this year.

Meanwhile, Mandar Lawate, a researcher, said that the immersion procession has never ended before 24 hours in the past 12 years.

He said that the immersion procession had ended by 4 pm on the same day in 1965, the war year when Pakistan had attacked India. Blackouts during that period and Halyachi Dangal (riot) during the festival forced mandals to complete the immersion without any untoward incident. “Interestingly, the news that India won the war came during the immersion procession and enlivened the festive mood,” Lawate said.