Ganeshotsav begins in Nagpur, Chitar Oli sees rush for idols

After a long wait, Bappa finally arrived in homes across Nagpur. Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated across the city on Monday, September 14, marking the start of the much-awaited Ganeshotsav.

From homes and housing societies to public mandals, a festive atmosphere prevailed everywhere. Devotees brought idols home and performed the rituals of Ganesh sthapana and pran pratishtha. This year the main celebration will end on Anant Chaturdashi, September 25, making the festival run for 12 days in Nagpur.

The 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. Since the auspicious timing can vary by location, devotees have been advised to follow their local priest or panchang. Along with the installation, traditional rituals such as pran pratishtha, puja, aarti and offerings of modak, laddoo, durva grass and flowers are being performed.

Bappa's arrival in Nagpur is not just a religious ritual but a celebration for the entire city. The Chitar Oli area in Mahal, one of Nagpur's most famous places for Ganesh idols, saw heavy crowds as devotees made their last-minute purchases. Artisans took weeks to give finishing touches to idols of various sizes and designs. In areas such as Chitar Oli, Rani Durgavati Chowk and Nandanvan, artisans were engaged in making idols right up to the festival, reflecting the preparations underway across the city. Mandals have put up decorations, lighting and theme-based setups, while homes too showed preparations to welcome Bappa.

Given the heavy crowds in and around Chitar Oli, Nagpur traffic police put in place special traffic arrangements for September 14. Traffic restrictions came into effect in the Chitar Oli area of Mahal from 6 am on Monday and will continue until 7 am on September 15. The stretch from Badkas Chowk to Bhavsar Chowk has been made one-way, while some roads have been closed with alternative routes marked out. People heading to the idol market and the city center have been advised to check diversions and avoid congested routes.

This year Ganeshotsav in Nagpur is likely to stretch longer than usual. The festival officially began on September 14, but many public mandals had already installed idols earlier to avoid crowds and logistical difficulties. Some mandals will immerse idols even after Anant Chaturdashi, which could extend the celebration well beyond the traditional 10 days in parts of the city.

Alongside devotion and celebration, environmental awareness is also growing. Many devotees and mandals are opting for clay and eco-friendly idols and showing responsibility in decoration and immersion, so that the city's enthusiasm does not come at the cost of the environment.

Over the next few days, Nagpur will see aarti, dhol-tasha performances, decorations, cultural programmes and gatherings in neighborhoods, with chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" echoing everywhere. With Bappa's arrival, Nagpur has been completely coloured in festive spirit.