NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 11, 2012 (India Today): With just a week to go for Ganesh Chaturthi, heavy rains have put a spanner in the works of Ganpati mandals in several parts of Mahrashtra, where the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In Mumbai, heavy downpour has put a wrench in the works of Ganpati mandals, who are approaching the BMC, MMRDA and MbPT (Mumbai Port Trust) to address their grievances at the eleventh hour. With just a week to go before Ganeshotsav, people are expecting only divine grace for any improvement in the situation.
On the other hand, in Belgaum markets are flooded with Ganesha statues and other decorative items used for the festival. Artisans are not only busy giving final touches to their statues but are also busy taking taking orders. Around 400 mandals install statues in the city while thousands of families install Ganesha in their homes from 5 to 11 days. It is also the time when traders, fire cracker shops, hotels and priests do a brisk business. Hundreds of thousands are expected from neighboring Maharashtra and Goa for the festival.