Ganeshotsav 2026: Maharashtra govt steps up preparations for smooth celebrations

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said arrangements are in place for the 10-day Ganeshotsav beginning September 14, with authorities directed to follow Bombay High Court rules. He urged mandals to ensure safety, food hygiene, pothole-free routes and environmental compliance

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the state government has made arrangements to ensure that the ten-day Ganesh festival is celebrated smoothly across the state, with authorities directed to comply with the rules laid down by the Bombay High Court. He also directed the police to keep a close watch on violations involving firecrackers and loudspeakers and take strict action against those flouting rules.

Fadnavis asked Ganesh mandals to recheck safety arrangements for processions, particularly those carrying large idols, and assured them of necessary assistance from the state government. The CM chaired a meeting on law and order arrangements for Ganeshotsav 2026 at Sahyadri Guest House here. The festival will start on September 14.

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Talking to reporters, he said, “The High Court has continued the rules it had laid down last year. Ganeshotsav will be conducted in accordance with those rules.” Arrangements had been made for issuing all necessary permissions promptly and the coordination committee had expressed satisfaction over the measures, he said. “Some minor issues have been raised by them and we will resolve them immediately,” Fadnavis said.

The CM said the government was making arrangements to ensure that roads used for bringing Ganesh idols and those used for immersion were in good condition. “There should be no obstruction and no potholes on these roads,” he said, adding that necessary directions had been issued to the authorities.

“Our effort is to ensure that this state festival is celebrated properly across Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said. He expressed confidence that the festival would be celebrated in a “traditional and environmentally friendly” manner.

During the meeting, Fadnavis directed Ganesh mandals to ensure the purity and safety of prasad distributed to devotees during the upcoming Ganeshotsav and strictly comply with food safety regulations.

Fadnavis said mandals should familiarise themselves with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules and ensure that devotees are provided pure and adulteration-free prasad. He urged Ganesh mandals to undergo necessary guidance and training to meet the minimum standards prescribed for preparation and distribution of prasad.

Fadnavis said the scale at which Ganeshotsav is celebrated in Mumbai was commendable and stressed the need to carry forward the spirit of social integration and public awareness associated with the festival since its promotion by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. With Ganeshotsav accorded the status of a state festival, maintaining its tradition, discipline and sanctity was a collective responsibility of citizens, the administration, mandals and various organisations, he said.

The CM directed the administration, Ganesh mandals and coordination committees to work in close coordination to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully and smoothly. He also asked officials to resolve difficulties faced by mandals promptly and ensure that permission-related issues do not remain pending.

Since most permissions for existing mandals are routine in nature, the administration should take proactive steps to issue them expeditiously, Fadnavis said.

He directed civic authorities to ensure that roads used for the arrival and immersion of Ganesh idols are maintained properly, with potholes removed and adequate lighting provided at night.

According to him, the Bombay High Court had retained its previous year’s decision on Ganeshotsav, reducing several difficulties faced by mandals. The government had also informed the court that appropriate procedures were being followed to prevent pollution caused by immersion of plaster-of-Paris idols in seas and rivers, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said all government agencies, civic authorities and Ganesh mandals must work together to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully, with discipline and communal harmony.

He said police, municipal authorities and other departments had made arrangements for the safe and orderly arrival and immersion of idols, while suggestions from mandals had also been incorporated.

Shinde said around 1,850 km of roads in Mumbai had been concretised and directed the civic administration to ensure that there were no potholes along routes used for Ganesh idol processions. He also said steps had been taken to provide five-year permissions to Ganesh mandals.

In view of the possibility of rumours being spread through social media, mandal office-bearers and volunteers should remain vigilant and immediately inform the police or administration about any suspicious activity, Shinde said.

He also asked mandals carrying large idols to ensure the safety of the idol structure, including nuts and bolts, welding and other fittings. Children and devotees should be kept at a safe distance from idols during arrival and immersion processions, he said.