It’s a Gannapati! A week into Anna’s fast, city Ganpati mandals want their tableaux to be Hazare themed. This race may be won by small mandals before the festival begins, and not big mandals who plan much in advance
(Nadeem Inamdar) * * * * * Anna Ganesha by sculptor Pramod Kamble of Ahmednagar Anna Hazare’s infectious popularity is only swelling with each passing day and it’s no surprise that Ganesh mandals in the city are making last minutes changes to make him a part of their tableaux for the 10-day celebrations next month. And idol makers are scampering to meet the rising demand.Anna Hazare’s infectious popularity is only swelling with each passing day and it’s no surprise that Ganesh mandals in the city are making last minutes changes to make him a part of their tableaux for the 10-day celebrations next month. And idol makers are scampering to meet the rising demand. Pune’s famous Ganesha idol maker, Satish Taru, said that many mandals from the city are interested in erecting tableaux on the theme of Anna Hazare. But having them now is a remote possibility as preparing the idols require lot of time and is not a matter of a day or two. “We were able to process a few requests on behalf of some mandals related to the theme of Anna Hazare idols as they were made a couple of months back,” he said. Activists of some mandals have gone as far as Ahmednagar to fetch the Anna Ganesh idol from sculptor Pramod Kamble, who, inspired by the anti-corruption crusader’s devotion, has depicted him as a modern-day Ganesh fighting the system with the Jan Lokpal bill. And it’s only appropriate that much of the demand for this idol is coming from Pune as also other parts of the state. Pune is where Lokmanya Tilak started the Ganeshostav to bring in a national awakening among the commoners against the British rule. The festival is celebrated across cast and creed. Reputed Mandals and idol makers from Maharashtra especially Pune have requested Kamble to manufacture Anna Ganesh for them, a request that is being duly considered. Kamble’s two-and-a-half foot Ganesh idol resembles Anna Hazare and sports his famous cap. The Anna Ganesh holds a national tri-colour, a copy of the Lokpal bill and a burning torch in his hands. It is as if the idol is urging people to fight corruption. “This model has become an instant hit and I have so many requests that I am left wondering how to produce them on a mass scale in the few days left at hand,” Kamble said. Rahul Palande of Topkhana Mitra Mandal said he wanted Anna Ganesh as it is a new concept where the elephant God takes shape of Anna Hazare and wants to help his countrymen. Akhil Mandai Mandal’s Anand Saraf, who is considered an encyclopedia on the city’s Ganesh festival, said that with Anna’s popularity graph on the rise many mandals were making last minute changes to include him in their tableaux. “But the big Ganesh mandals start their preparation months in advance. Anna’s fast for the Lokpal bill become the talking point in the last 10 days,” he said. As a result, the small mandals would be able to highlight Anna and his cause much better than the big mandals, he explained. Saraf also said the mandals usually avoid controversial subjects, “Political issues are rarely taken up by mandals. But this time there is a possibility that mandals will put banners highlighting the issue of corruption raised by Anna,” he added. Pune’s famous Ganesha idol maker, Satish Taru, said that many mandals from the city are interested in erecting tableaux on the theme of Anna Hazare. But having them now is a remote possibility as preparing the idols require lot of time and is not a matter of a day or two. “We were able to process a few requests on behalf of some mandals related to the theme of Anna Hazare idols as they were made a couple of months back,” he said. Activists of some mandals have gone as far as Ahmednagar to fetch the Anna Ganesh idol from sculptor Pramod Kamble, who, inspired by the anti-corruption crusader’s devotion, has depicted him as a modern-day Ganesh fighting the system with the Jan Lokpal bill. And it’s only appropriate that much of the demand for this idol is coming from Pune as also other parts of the state. Pune is where Lokmanya Tilak started the Ganeshostav to bring in a national awakening among the commoners against the British rule. The festival is celebrated across cast and creed. Reputed Mandals and idol makers from Maharashtra especially Pune have requested Kamble to manufacture Anna Ganesh for them, a request that is being duly considered. Sculptor Pramod Kamble puts the finishing touches on an Anna Ganesh idol on Monday Kamble’s two-and-a-half foot Ganesh idol resembles Anna Hazare and sports his famous cap. The Anna Ganesh holds a national tri-colour, a copy of the Lokpal bill and a burning torch in his hands. It is as if the idol is urging people to fight corruption. “This model has become an instant hit and I have so many requests that I am left wondering how to produce them on a mass scale in the few days left at hand,” Kamble said. Rahul Palande of Topkhana Mitra Mandal said he wanted Anna Ganesh as it is a new concept where the elephant God takes shape of Anna Hazare and wants to help his countrymen. Akhil Mandai Mandal’s Anand Saraf, who is considered an encyclopedia on the city’s Ganesh festival, said that with Anna’s popularity graph on the rise many mandals were making last minute changes to include him in their tableaux. “But the big Ganesh mandals start their preparation months in advance. Anna’s fast for the Lokpal bill become the talking point in the last 10 days,” he said. As a result, the small mandals would be able to highlight Anna and his cause much better than the big mandals, he explained. Saraf also said the mandals usually avoid controversial subjects, “Political issues are rarely taken up by mandals. But this time there is a possibility that mandals will put banners highlighting the issue of corruption raised by Anna,” he added. Source: http://www.punemirror.in/article/62/2011082320110823061654881b941d130/It%E2%80%99s-a-Gannapati.html
