Nagpur: Intermittent downpours through the day and a heavy spell of evening rain failed to dampen the festive spirit as devotees danced to dhol rhythms, joined colourful processions and welcomed Lord Ganesh with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya”.The narrow lanes of Chitaroli, the city’s traditional idol-making hub, were bustling through the day, while adjoining Itwari too remained packed well into the night as scores of Ganesh idols began their journey to pandals.The arrival of the popular Santi Ganpati was among the major ‘agman’ events on Saturday, along with several other pandals. Sunday is expected to be even bigger, with ‘Nagpur Cha Raja’ set to arrive and several other large local Ganpatis scheduled to be taken out.With Ganesh Chaturthi falling on Monday, September 14, preparations have entered the final stretch. Hartalika Puja and Ganesh Pratishthapana will also be observed that day, adding to the festive rush across the cityRain continued through much of the day and intensified around 5pm. For a while, crowds thinned as people squeezed into shops and stood under awnings, waiting for the heavier spell to pass, and some mandals held back before moving their idols. But as the downpour eased, Chitaroli filled up once again — dhols resumed, bands struck up their tunes, and devotees returned to the streets to accompany Bappa home.For Chitaroli’s idol makers, there was little room for rest. After weeks spent sculpting, painting and decorating the idols, workshops burned the midnight oil to finish the last of the orders. As completed idols left for pandals, artisans worked on final touches for those still waiting their turn.“These two days are among the busiest for us. People keep coming till late at night to take their Ganpatis, and the bigger mandals also schedule their ‘agman’ around this weekend. There is hardly any break once the rush begins,” said Sushil Chaurasia, an idol maker from Chitaroli.Nagpur’s centuries-old Ganesh temples are also being decked up for the festival, with strings of flowers, elaborate floral arrangements and colourful illumination planned to welcome thousands of devotees.The historic Tekdi Ganesh Mandir and Bhuryacha Ganpati and Siddhivinayak Ganesh Mandir, both in Mahal, are among the prominent temples preparing for Ganeshotsav, with special arrangements also being made to manage the expected surge of devotees from Ganesh Chaturthi onwards.
