Nagpur: The 145-year-old Marbat festival, a cultural tradition unique to Nagpur, is set to get a major civic push this year, with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) entering the celebrations for the first time.The civic body is preparing for the September 11 Marbat-Badgya procession, with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, cricketer Umesh Yadav, film actor Jackie Shroff and filmmaker Subhash Ghai among the prominent personalities who may attend the festival, NMC standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare told TOI.Consular representatives from Italy, France, Norway and Finland are also likely to attend, she said. The proposed participation of foreign representatives is part of NMC’s effort to showcase the city’s distinctive cultural heritage to an international audience.Mayor Neeta Thakre reviewed preparations at a meeting on Tuesday and directed civic officials to ensure that citizens watching or participating in the procession do not face inconvenience. Officials were also asked to provide adequate civic amenities along the procession route.“The NMC wants to take Marbat, which is an important part of Nagpur’s cultural identity, to the national and international stage,” Thakre said.Ruling party leader Narendra Borkar directed officials to make arrangements for drinking water and sanitation along Marbat and Badgya routes, anticipating large crowds during the procession.Dani-Wakhare instructed officials to ensure proper protocol arrangements for foreign consuls and representatives, ministers, elected representatives, film personalities and other dignitaries expected at the event.NMC is also organising several programmes around the festival, including a bhajan sandhya, photography competition and exhibition. Sports officer Piyush Ambulkar briefed officials about the preparations and events at Tuesday’s meeting.Marbat festival, believed to have originated in Nagpur around 145 years ago, is centred on the traditional Marbat and Badgya processions. The festival has historically been organised through community participation, with the procession drawing thousands of citizens.NMC’s first formal involvement marks an attempt to give the festival an organised civic and tourism-oriented platform while preserving its traditional character. Civic departments including sanitation, fire services and engineering have been asked to coordinate arrangements for the event.
