Jamshedpur: Ganeshotsav commenced with religious fervour and gaiety in the Steel City on Monday, as over 30 elaborately decorated puja pandals across Jamshedpur and adjoining areas were inaugurated on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Special prayers and Kalash Sthapana ceremonies marked the beginning of the festivities at various venues.The highlight of this year’s celebrations is the 108th edition of the Ganesh Puja organised by Bala Ganapati Vilas Samiti at the Ganesh Puja Ground in Kadma’s BH Area. “The grand fair and evening cultural programmes have always been the main attractions of our puja. This year too, we have several entertainment options for mela enthusiasts,” said SN Rao Naidu, general secretary of the Bala Ganapati Vilas Samiti.The 17-day fair features a wide range of entertainment attractions, including a ‘giant wheel’, ‘roller coaster’, ‘break dance’, ‘merry-go-round’, ‘water bolt’, ‘tora tora’, ‘chand tara swing’, and ‘mickey mouse’ rides. A ‘zero gravity’ ride has been introduced as a new attraction this year. Besides amusement rides, the fair has over 300 stalls offering toys, garments, home decor products, kitchen accessories, beauty products, and a variety of food items, organisers said.With an estimated footfall of over 50,000 visitors daily, organisers have put in place elaborate security and crowd-management measures. CCTV cameras have been installed at over 20 strategic locations across the mela premises, from M-2 Roundabout to Kadma Post Office. Ride operators have also been directed to install surveillance cameras at their facilities. SP (City) Lalit Meena reviewed security arrangements and crowd-management measures on Saturday.“Besides CCTV surveillance, police personnel in uniform and plain clothes will be deployed. Adequate volunteers will also be engaged to assist in crowd management,” said T. Anjaneyulu, general secretary of the puja committee.Amid a rise in dengue and malaria cases in the city, the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) has directed organisers to ensure daily disposal of waste generated at the fair. Health officials have also stressed the need to prevent water stagnation on the mela premises to curb mosquito breeding.
