Trust Chairman Prataprao Godse said that there were nearly 40,000 mandals in the state which were engaged in public celebrations during the Ganesh festival. Taking into consideration that the donations to these mandals pour in from the general public, Godse urged the mandals that they should do their best by donating the money to the welfare fund for the families of the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country.

Welcoming the decision of some Ganesh Utsav mandals in the city to donate money for the Army welfare fund, Godse said that a huge amount can be collected from the rest by curtailing expenses on decorations of the pandals.

These mandals should collect public donations in sealed boxes at the entrance of the pandal during the festival and add their own sums for the welfare fund, he added.