Nagpur: A social media row over a purported Rs500 entry ticket for Nagpur’s 145-year-old Marbat tradition has prompted Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to clarify that citizens will not have to pay any entry fee to witness the traditional Kali-Pili Marbat and Badgya procession on Sept 11.The posts claimed that visitors would have to register through BookMyShow, drawing criticism, particularly in view of the Rs2-crore provision made by NMC for the Marbat festival.Standing Committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare clarified that NMC is not selling tickets or passes to view the Marbat procession. She said T-shirts and bands carrying the festival logo are available for interested citizens, but their purchase is entirely voluntary and has no connection with entry to the event.State cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar will perform the ceremonial puja of Kali and Pili Marbats on Sept 6, followed by a heritage walk, NMC said.The Marbat procession, held on the second day of Pola, or Tanha Pola, is one of Nagpur’s oldest cultural traditions. Thousands of citizens traditionally gather to watch the black and yellow Marbats and Badgyas, which are taken out in a grand procession.This year, NMC has taken charge of organising the festival and planned a series of activities to promote the city’s cultural heritage nationally and internationally. The civic body said arrangements for the Marbats and Badgyas, their transportation and sound systems would be made through the festival committee.
