Public Ganesh Festival Committees Should Create Awareness About ‘Operation Sindoor’ and ‘Swadeshi’ – CM Devendra Fadnavis

Celebrate Ganesh Festival in a Peaceful and Joyful Atmosphere

Ganesh Festival Law & Order Meeting

Mumbai, Aug 2025 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to public Ganesh festival committees to use this year’s celebrations to raise awareness about the strength India demonstrated to the world through Operation Sindoor and the importance of using indigenous (Swadeshi) products. He also expressed the expectation that tableaux based on Operation Sindoor should be dedicated to the soldiers. Public Ganesh committees should work in coordination with the administration to ensure the festival is celebrated in a peaceful and joyful atmosphere, he said.

The Chief Minister instructed the administration to take measures so that Ganesh devotees do not face any difficulties during the festival. The meeting to review law and order arrangements for the Ganesh festival was held at Sahyadri Guest House, where the CM was speaking. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Skill Development Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home (Urban) Yogesh Kadam, and Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar.

The CM directed that idol makers, like public Ganesh committees, should be given permission for five consecutive years, with renewal of the license each year. He advised idol makers to take advantage of the computer-based “single-window” system started by the municipal corporation for permissions. He also instructed that the number of artificial ponds for idol immersion should be increased, and that more boats should be deployed at the seashore for immersing tall idols in deep sea water.

The CM said that the state government has given Ganesh festival the status of a “state festival,” and therefore extensive planning is done on a large scale for its celebration. All the concessions given to Ganesh committees last year will be continued this year as well. He urged everyone to strictly follow the law while celebrating. Since the Eid-e-Milad festival will also occur during the Ganesh festival period this year, care should be taken to maintain communal harmony and prevent any disturbance to law and order. Regarding extending the number of days for using loudspeakers during the festival, the CM assured that positive steps would be taken within the framework of court directives.

A decision was also taken that if Ganesh festival committees provide the administration with a written declaration that their office premises are not used for commercial purposes, then property tax will not be levied on such offices.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Iqbal Singh Chahal, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Principal Secretary (Special) Anupkumar Singh, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Chairman of the Public Ganesh Festival Coordination Committee Ganesh Dahibavkar, as well as Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries from various departments, Ganesh festival committees, and idol makers’ associations. Municipal commissioners, police commissioners, and district superintendents of police also joined via video conferencing. Additional Municipal Commissioner Amit Saini made a presentation during the meeting.