Nagpur: Lauding the city’s efforts to give its historic Marbat festival an international identity, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the event was not merely a religious or cultural celebration but a reflection of Nagpur’s deep-rooted traditions and collective aspirations.“Marbat is a tradition that is over a century old. The burning of the effigies symbolises the tradition of burning away people’s pain, suffering, sorrows, and grievances,” Fadnavis said after attending the festival.He said the festival had generated considerable enthusiasm, with large numbers of citizens taking part in processions carrying Badgya and Marbat effigies before consigning them to flames.Fadnavis also praised Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for promoting the festival on a larger scale and giving it an international dimension.“I feel that this time the civic body has made an effort to give the festival an international identity. Consuls general, celebrities, and other prominent personalities have been associated with it. The municipal corporation has also done the branding of the festival in a very good manner,” he said.The NMC made elaborate arrangements for the festival, including branding and cultural promotion, to showcase Nagpur’s unique heritage to a wider audience.
