Jamshedpur: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Monday participated at the popular Ganesh Mahotsav celebrations at Kadma, which entered its 98th year. He sought blessings from Lord Ganesha and wished for prosperity and development of the state.
Das, who was the chief guest during the inaugural rituals of the Ganesh Puja festivity organised by Shree Bala Ganapathi Vilas, speaking to media after performing the puja inside the pandal said that he prayed for the prosperity and development of the state and the country.
�I pray for all the residents of the city and the state on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Lord Ganesha will bless us to lead towards prosperity and the happiness will come for the poor and marginalized. I also pray that the country which has already started moving towards development should continue to further progress,� said Das.
This year 60-feet high pandal has been built at a cost of Rs 11 lakh which is a replica of a Ganesh temple in Nepal.
The chief minister who reached city by state-owned chopper at around 10 am took part in the rituals which lasted for nearly an hour inside the pandal left the venue and left for Ranchi.
Meanwhile, in a breach of security protocol, a BJP worker (Kadma block president) Dipu Singh had entered the pandal with a licensed pistol and was caught by the chief minister security personnel who informed the DSP city, Animesh Naithani who seized the firearm of the BJP worker and only then allowed him to enter the puja area of the pandal.
� It was breach of protocol. The BJP worker claimed to have been invited for the puja festivity. However, we have seized the firearm and would be checking if it has it license or not. Even if it has license one is not allowed to enter VVIP area especially religious places with arms,� said DSP city Animesh Nathani.
Meanwhile, considering the plea of the Ganesh Puja organisers, Tata Steel subsidiary, has agreed to remove fencing near the pandal. As part of security measures 12 CCTV cameras, 12 high-mast poles, 10 fire extinguishers and a fire tender are in place during the festival.
Amid reverent thoughts and overwhelming festive gaiety, the much awaited ten-day long festival of Ganesh Chaturthi started in ritualistic manner embracing both Marathi and non-Marathi folk all through the Steel City.
The ceremony began by placing the idol, usually made of terracotta, in a sacred arena, symbolic of a throne. The worshipper then sips holy water and performs pranayama, bows and prostrates before Ganesh and all the other gods.
This followed singing of ganpati aarti and the atharvashirsha with accompaniment of cymbals, bells and rhythmic clapping.
The last rite for the day is offering of ‘modak’ or prasad to the deity with flowers after which the prasad is distributed to the devotees. The Ganesh puja of Jamshedpur is one of the oldest and most revered pujas in the State.
Every year large numbers of devotees visit the place and seek blessings from lord Ganesha. Priests from Andhra Pradesh would perform the religious ceremonies.
