Nagpur: This Ganeshotsav, Nagpurians may not need to travel far to journey from the spiritual lanes of Alandi to the Himalayan shrine of Badrinath — and even enter the magical world of Hogwarts.As the city prepares to welcome Bappa, some of its prominent mandals are turning their pandals into elaborate recreations of religious landmarks, while at least one is taking an unusual plunge into pop culture.Among the biggest attractions taking shape is the over-a-century-old Dakshinamurti Ganeshotsav in Mahal, near Chitnis Park, where Alandi and the life of Sant Dnyaneshwar will form the central theme this year.Akshay Chaudhari, associated with the Dakshinamurti Ganeshotsav, said the theme has been chosen to mark 750 years of Sant Dnyaneshwar. “The entire theme will revolve around Sant Dnyaneshwar and Alandi. We want devotees visiting the pandal to also learn about his life and the significance of Alandi,” he said.The mandal also plans to screen two documentaries when the Ganesh idol is brought to the pandal. While one will trace the history and legacy of the century-old Dakshinamurti Ganeshotsav, the second will focus on Sant Dnyaneshwar’s life and his association with Alandi.Bappa himself will make a towering arrival. The idol will be around 15 feet tall and, with the trolley and base included, will rise to nearly 19 feet from ground level — among the tallest here in recent years, according to Chaudhari. Given its size, the idol is being made close to the installation site itself, near New English High School at Chitnis Park, barely a few metres from the pandal.Elsewhere in central Nagpur, the prominent Sancheti Ganeshotsav, which has recreated major pilgrimage centres and temples over the years, is heading to the Himalayas this time with Badrinath as its theme.Kripalsingh, associated with the mandal, said the pandal will seek to recreate the atmosphere of the famed Badrinath shrine, one of Hinduism’s Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The mandal has previously brought themes centred around prominent shrines, including Jagannath Puri and Mahakal, to Nagpur.And amid these spiritual journeys comes an altogether different destination — Hogwarts. In Vivekananda Nagar, a pandal is expected to take inspiration from the Harry Potter universe, with the iconic Hogwarts forming its theme. The venue, which had a tropical jungle theme last year, is now rolling out this page of science fiction, probably for the first time in Nagpur.This year, Panchmukhi Ganesh Utsav Mandal — Jaripatka ka Raja — has organised an underwater Dwarka theme. “We welcome every devotee to experience the mystical grandeur of Lord Krishna’s submerged kingdom, beautifully graced by the divine presence of Lord Ganesha,” said a mandal representative.
