Ganesh Chaturthi begins in Nagpur, 12-day festivities kick off
Ganpati Bappa arrived in Nagpur homes and pandals on Monday as the citywide festival began, with police imposing traffic curbs near the idol market
The wait is finally over. Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated across Nagpur on Monday, September 14, marking the arrival of Ganpati Bappa in the city. The much-awaited Ganeshotsav has begun.
From homes and housing societies to crowded public pandals, an atmosphere of enthusiasm has gripped the city. Devotees are bringing Ganesh idols home and performing the rituals of Ganesh Sthapana and Pran Pratishtha. This year the main celebrations will conclude on September 25 with Anant Chaturdashi, meaning Nagpur will see 12 days of festivities.
Chaturthi tithi began at 7:06 am on September 14 and will end at 7:44 am on September 15. The midday period is considered especially auspicious for Ganesh puja and idol installation. According to the commonly published panchang, devotees can perform Ganesh Sthapana and puja between 11:02 am and 1:31 pm. The auspicious timing may vary by location, so devotees have been advised to follow the timing given by their local priest or panchang. Along with the installation, traditional rituals of Pran Pratishtha, puja and aarti are being performed, with offerings of modak, laddoo, durva grass and flowers.
Bappa's arrival in Nagpur is not just a religious ritual but a citywide festival. Huge crowds have gathered for last-minute purchases at Chitar Oli in Mahal, one of Nagpur's famous idol-making areas. Craftsmen have worked for weeks to give final touches to idols of different sizes and designs. Artisans are seen making idols in areas such as Chitar Oli, Rani Durgavati Chowk and Nandanvan, reflecting the preparations under way across the city. Enthusiasm is also visible in Nagpur's various neighbourhoods, with mandals putting up decorations, lights and tableaux, while families decorate their homes to welcome Bappa.
Anticipating heavy crowds in and around Chitar Oli, Nagpur Police have put in place special traffic arrangements for September 14. Traffic restrictions in the Chitar Oli area of Mahal came into effect from 6 am on Monday and will continue until 7 am on September 15. The route from Badkas Chowk to Bhavsar Chowk has been made one-way, and some roads have been closed with alternative routes marked out to avoid jams. Motorists heading towards the idol market and central Nagpur have been asked to check diversion information in advance and avoid unnecessary travel through congested routes.
The festival is likely to run longer than usual in Nagpur this year. Although the official celebrations begin on September 14, some public mandals had already installed their idols earlier to avoid crowd and arrangement issues. Some mandals are also considering immersion after Anant Chaturdashi. As a result, festivities in parts of the city could extend beyond the traditional 10 days.
Alongside devotion and celebration, there is growing emphasis on eco-friendly celebrations. Many devotees and mandals are opting for clay and environment-friendly idols, and stressing responsible decoration and immersion practices so that the city's festive spirit does not come at the cost of the environment. In the coming days, Nagpur's neighbourhoods will be abuzz with aarti, dhol-tasha, decorations, cultural programmes and community gatherings, with the chant of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" echoing everywhere. With Bappa's arrival, Nagpur has officially turned festive and the city is ready to celebrate.
