Mandal themes: most of them stale,rehashed

In Akurdi,the Tarun Mitra Mandal headed by PCMC Standing Committee chairman Jagdish Shetty has a mammoth Hanuman idol. “The mace and the mountain Lord Hanuman holds are special attractions,” said Shetty. The Siddhivinayak Mandal,Kiwale has a 14-foot idol of Shri Lalbagcha Raja. The Jaihind Tarun Mandal in Kasarwadi has a 15-foot Ganesh idol. In Dapodi,the Vithal Mandal has erected an illuminated palace made of cloth,while the Hindvi Mandal has a palace made of thermocol. The Landge Limbachi Talim Mandal in Bhosari gaothan- corporator Nitin Landge is its president- has a grand temple as decoration. Mandal members are proud they set up the structure without digging or damaging the road. The Jai Maharashtra Mandal has a replica of the Akshardham temple in Delhi.

Girish Nair is the mandal president.

The Zero Boys Pratishthan in Masulkar Colony has used 18 idols to present ‘Khanderayacha Jagran.’ The Gajanan Mandal in Pimpri Camp focuses on ‘Hanuman Uddhan’. At Bhel Chowk,Pradhikaran,the Omsai Mandal has a Lord Balaji idol. At Mahalsakant Chowk,the Jaihind Mitra Mandal of Pradhikaran – Rajesh Phalke is the mandal president – has ‘Praylakari Tandav’,the dance of Lord Shiva. The Shri Duttwadi Tarun Mandal,Duttwadi has ‘Shankaracha Virbhadra Avtaar’ (Lord Shankar’s avtar).

The Jai Hanuman Krida Mandal and the Shivray Mandal,Akurdi stresses the return of ‘Ram Rajya’. The mandal members said people fed up with growing evil in society would be happy if Lord Ram’s era returned. The Navnath Mandal,Akurdi- Mahesh Datir is the mandal president – highlights corruption and Anna Hazare’s fight,which was the theme of many mandals last year. The decoration is called,‘Fakt Ladh Mahana.’

The Shri Krishna Kranti Mandal,Krushnanagar has the Mantralaya fire as theme. Shivaji Suryavanshi is president of the mandal that chooses to call its decoration “Ek Shahracha Ant (Death of a city).

In Mohannagar,Chinchwad,the Siddhivinayak Mandal shows monkeys performing Ganesh aarti. “It is drawing crowds,” said Maruti Bhapkar.

The Suvarna Yug Mitra Mandal,Yamunanagar has flex boards carrying social messages.

The mandal has decided to donate funds for treatment of a child suffering from a serious ailment. The Vighnaharta Mandal in Nigdi Gaothan has illegal construction as its central theme.

In Dighi,the Jai Bhawani Tarun Mandal shows Chhatrapati Shivaji’s system of justice delivery compared with today’s justice system. Rahul Gawli is the mandal president.

The Swarajya Mandal,Sant Tukaram Nagar,too,compares the justice delivery system of the past and present.

In Nehrunagar,the Rashtrej Mandal,which has Rajendra Modak as president,highlights food adulteration. The Vallabhnagar Ashtavinayak Mandal,which is led by its president Pravin Jadhav,presents the plight of child labourers. The mandal has decided to adopt four children,mandal members said.

The Utkarsh Mitra Mandal in Mahesh Nagar has a laser show display. The Nav Maharashtra Tarun Mandal in Landewadi has brought river Ganga to Pimpri-Chinchwad with its depiction of the ‘Ganga Avtaran’ (the advent of Ganga).

In Sangvi,most mandals immersed Ganesh idols on the seventh day. The main attraction was the idol of Lord Vitthal immersed by Shtilonagar Kridal Mandal,Sangvi.

“Traditionally,immersion takes place on the seventh day in Sangvi,” said Raju Salve,a mandal member.

Female foeticide was the theme at Shri Khanderaya Bhaji Mandai Mandal (president Vijay Jagtap),Jagruti Samajik Yuvak Kalyan Mandal,Uday Mitra Mandal in Bhosari,Nagrik Kruti Samiti (Sunil Landge is mandal president) in Moshi. The Ram Mitra Mandal,Landge Ali has a decoration of “Chillar party…”

Flowers were a delight at several mandals: Shuryunagar Mandal in Pradhikaran had decorations of a variety of flowers. Marshal Group Kamgal Ganeshutsav Mandal,Jai Maharashtra Mitra Mandal in Indrayani Nagar,Sangarsh Mandal and Sant Tukaram Nagar Mandal and Shiv Shakti Mandal in Ajmera Colony (former corporator Rajesh Pillay is mandal president),too displayed flowers.

Everest Mandals

The Jai Maharashtra Mitra Mandal in Gavhane Vasti is probably the biggest draw in Bhosari and its theme has a local connection. The mandal displays the recent expedition to Mount Everest. “They were inspired by the group from Bhosari who recently scaled the Everest,” said Sachin Godambe,a resident. The Shri Shivaji Mitra Mandal in Bhosari also put up a decoration on the expedition.

Other attractions

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Festival took off on Monday with actor Sachin Khedekar inaugurating the festival at Ramkrishna More Auditorium in Chinchwad. Mayor Mohini Lande,Municipal Commissioner Dr Shrikar Pardeshi,MLA Laxman Jagtap,Shiv Sena leader Shrirang Barne and former corporators Uma Khapre and Rajabhau Golande,festival organisers Praveen Tupe and Amit Gorkhe were present. This is the 17th year of the festival.

The Mrs Pimpri-Chinchwad contest was held on Tuesday as part of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Festival. The title was won by Roopali Patil,while Hausha Parlihariya and Priyanka Gawli were the runners-up.