Jamshedpur, July 24: Stage is set for the biggest Ganesh Utsav in Jamshedpur. Shree Bala Ganpati Vilas in Kadma celebrating 99th year will open the puja pandals for the devotees on Thursday, August 24. The puja was started in the year 1919.
Chief Guest for the occasion will be former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda. The inaugural event will commence with dance programme at 8 pm followed by pandal inauguration.
Guest of honour for the occasion will be Ghatsila MLA Laxman Tudu, Tata Workers Union President R Ravi Prasad, former BJP spokesperson Amarpreet Singh Kale, social worker RK Sinha, Suresh Sonthalia, former sales tax commissioner Sitaram and others.
Y.K. Sharma, general secretary, Sree Bala Ganpati Vilas, Kadma, said, Kalash Sthapna will be performed by chief minister Raghubar Das on August 25 at 9.30 am.
State food and civil supplies minister Saryu Rai will light the Akhand Jyot while State BJP President Laxman Gilua will lay wreath along with district BJP President Dinesh Kumar, social worker RK Sinha and other dignitaries, he added.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Y.K. Sharma further said, the fair will begin on August 25 at 7 pm and will be inaugurated by the chief guest for the occasion Jamshedpur MP Bidhut Baran Mahato in presence of former minister Banna Gupta, social workers Astik Mahato and former MP Suman Mahato.
Number of joy rides, water boat, Bengal fine arts for women, utensils from Kanpur, artificial jewellery shops will attracts the residents in large numbers. For the very first time Ranger joy ride is coming to Jamshedpur and is set to attract a large public.
Sharma added that the committee would hire a security agency for the 17-day mega mela to ward off petty criminals. Shree Bala Ganapati Vilas, the organisation which is organising Ganesh puja for more than nice decades in success, has made elaborate arrangements for the utsav.
Members of the puja committee stressed that their priority was to ensure a safe and grand Ganesh Puja, which started in 1919 and draws a huge crowd. Though the idol is immersed after 10 days, the fair at the maidan continues for another week.
�This is the most popular Ganesh Puja in town and we have always tried to make it both entertaining and safe. It has been nine decades now, but its popularity has been increasing every year,� said a member.
A wide entrance has been constructed to facilitate smooth movement of visitors. The pandal alone has cost Rs 5 lakh while illumination will set the organisers back by another Rs 60,000- Rs 70,000.
The pandal based on an imaginary temple will rise 60-feet tall and 50 ft wide.