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Maharashtra

Prayers on lips, devotion in hearts, Maharashtra soaks in Ganeshotsav spirit!

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After two years of the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Ganeshotsav 2022 started with a big bang, gigantic idols, lavish colourful thematic decorations and piety all over Maharashtra, with celebs, corporates and commoners immersing in the spirit of the 10-day festival, here on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, various state and central cabinet ministers like Narayan Rane, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, Bharatiya Janata Party city and state chiefs Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ashish Shelar and other prominent leaders welcomed the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh for the fest amid music, dance, pomp and pageantry.

Several ex-CMs or union ministers like Nationalist Congress President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Congress state President Nana Patole, city chief Bhai Jagtap, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, ex-Mayor Kishori Pednekar, and other well-known leaders also installed big and small idols of Lord Ganesh for worship.

Other celebs like the Ambanis, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Urmila Matondkar, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, Vidya Balan, Shilpa Shetty, Shreyas Talpade, Vivek Oberoi, Govinda, Sonali Bendre and many more are celebrating Ganeshotsav with idols at their homes.

Many other celebs like Sachin Tendulkar, Rani Mukherjee and others started their day with the customary visit to pray at one of the Ganesh Temples in their vicinity.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the 8 top Ganpati Temples – Ashtavinayak – all ‘swayambhu’ (self-manifested) in Raigad, Pune and Ahmednagar districts, with thousands thronging for ‘darshan’ and ‘pujas’ since early morning.

After two years, idols of 2-feet (household) and 4-feet (public marquees), the familiar large and gigantic idols of Lord Ganesha returned to the celebrations, awing the masses.

The state’s tallest – 38-feet Lord Ganesha – in a Parashuram ‘avatar’ is installed at 11th Khetwadi Lane in south Mumbai, while the all-time favourite, Lalbaugcha Raja in Laulbaug has mesmerising form of over 18 feet enthralling devotees who throng here 24 hours daily for ‘darshan’, and the richest, GSB Seva Mandal Matunga’s Lord Ganesh idol of gold, silver and precious stones, with an insurance cover of a staggering Rs 316.50 crore this year.

As in the past, there are several regular or innovative themes, mostly around the 75th Independence Year, Lord Ganesha in various forms/avatars, in some marquees sitting with his parents Lord Shiv and Parvati, in different colours, moods and sitting, standing, aggressive or benign poses, wowing the beholders.

An estimated around 300 large or gigantic idols adorn the city landscape this year, besides other medium or small idols in mandals and households, companies, factories, or certain railway stations, all over, with official estimates of nearly a million idols to be worshipped this year in Maharashtra.

With so many choices, thousands of people, some celebs, domestic and foreign tourists have chalked out elaborate plans for ‘pandal-hopping’, trooping to various marquees, for ‘darshan’, joining ‘puja’ and partaking of ‘prasad and blessings’.

Several big and small Ganeshotsav organisers admit that with the massive inflation this year, all budgets have gone haywire with prices of all stuff for decoration, the costs of erecting the big and small pandals, security, prasad and other eatables shooting up between 25-40 per cent.

“Since we are coming in a big way after two years of subdued celebrations, there’s no way to cut corners, so we somehow trying to pull on hoping for some recovery through donations, offerings or sponsors,a said an office-bearer of the BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanway Samiti, the apex body of all public celebrations in the city.

Another organiser said that they are counting on the turnout after the two-year hiatus to fill up their offering boxes which will help balance their budgets, though they would be barely left with anything for other welfare or charitable activities.

Elsewhere, Pune is also witnessing pompous celebrations, while the traditional celebrations are seen in the coastal Konkan belt where thousands of villages and homes have come alive in the Ganeshotsav fest, twinkling fairy lights beckoning the visitors from afar in the remote hilly or coastal or tribal villages.

Lakhs of people from Konkan, living or working in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other major cities have gone to their native villages for full-fledged Ganeshotsav celebrations, braving delays, massive traffic snarls, bad roads, the sudden downpour, high ticket rates, etc.

“Barring these ‘vighnas’ (obstacles), the ordinary people are revelling in the festive atmosphere, and make the most of the Lord Ganesha’ blessings,” said a bank official Kishore Gowale who is celebrating in Mumbai while his wife Priyanka and their three tiny tots are enjoying the festival in Ratnagiri.

Crime

Sensational Incident in Mumbai: Man Found with Knife Lodged in His Head Outside Sion Hospital ICU; Allegations of Medical Negligence

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A shocking incident has emerged from Mumbai, creating panic among patients and their relatives within a hospital premises.

According to reports, a man was seen standing outside the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) with a knife lodged in his head. The horrifying sight caused chaos and fear among those present at the scene.

Eyewitnesses stated that the man was critically injured but did not receive immediate emergency medical attention for some time. Allegedly, he had come to the hospital seeking treatment, but no doctor attended to him promptly as an emergency case, and he was reportedly ignored.

After the incident was reported, hospital authorities and the police arrived at the spot. The injured man was later admitted to the ICU, where his condition remains critical, and doctors are making efforts to save his life.

This incident has raised serious questions about the functioning of the hospital administration. Patients and their families have alleged that if timely treatment had been provided, the situation might not have become so severe.

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Maharashtra

West Bengal Assembly Election Results 2026: ‘BJP Win Will Curb Infiltration, Terror,’ Says CM Devendra Fadnavis; Credits PM Modi For Surge

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Mumbai, May 4: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the BJP’s victory in West Bengal would help save the country from infiltrators and terrorist activities, asserting that people had reposed strong faith in the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Citing the BJP’s performance in Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, he said 78 per cent of the country is now ruled by the BJP-led NDA.

The BJP has won six seats and is leading in 196 seats, while the TMC has bagged one as the counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly polls progressed, indicating a saffron surge in the state.

“The victory in West Bengal will save our country from infiltrators, terrorist activities, and attacks. The way the Mamata Banerjee-led government functioned would ensure infiltrators from Bangladesh and send them across the country. These people would take away our jobs and pose a threat to our security, sovereignty, and unity,” Fadnavis said.

Referring to his campaign during the Bengal polls, Fadnavis said he was told that locals considered the BJP an outsider party, to which he responded that the party was founded by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and had deep roots.

He claimed the BJP has secured a two-thirds majority in the state, reflecting people’s trust in Modi.

Fadnavis said there was a growing trust factor for the BJP and PM Modi across states such as West Bengal, Puducherry, and Assam, adding that the party would bring West Bengal out of “bad rule”.

He criticised the erstwhile governments of Congress and the Left, calling the last 15 years under Banerjee the “worst of all” tenures.

He said West Bengal, once the country’s financial hub with Kolkata as its economic capital, had declined due to the previous governments.

“Of the total FDI which our country receives, West Bengal could not even attract half a per cent,” Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister said West Bengal was once highly industrialised, but nearly 7,000 major industries had left, turning it into a “jungle raj”.

He credited PM Modi’s vision and infrastructure push, including roads and metro projects, for convincing voters about real transformation.

Fadnavis hailed Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a master strategist and also lauded BJP president Nitin Nabin for ensuring a major victory.

He said the Bengal victory was dedicated to BJP workers who were attacked or killed after the previous assembly elections, asserting that the party’s “chariot of victory cannot be stopped”.

Drawing a comparison with Assam, Fadnavis said infiltration and terror activities had stopped after the BJP came to power and that the north-eastern state is now contributing significantly to growth.

“Similarly, West Bengal will be seen as a growth partner of the country in the coming days,” he added.

Fadnavis also thanked the Election Commission for conducting peaceful polls, claiming that no lives were lost.

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Maharashtra

Action taken against Dhulia Muslim settlement is totally unjust, Abu Asim Azmi writes to Minority Commission requesting a stay on the action and notice

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded a stay on the notice of illegal eviction of houses from Muslim settlements in Dhuleya and demolition action from Minorities Commission Chairman Pyare Khan. Anhusan said that it is completely unjust to evict 275 Muslims in Dhuleya, while the government had also issued a GR for their rehabilitation through the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana. This family had been living in Dhuleya Lal Sardarnagar Ant Batti area for 40 to 50 years, but the administration has suddenly evicted them by taking demolition action. They were illegally served a notice on April 21. The state government had also prepared a plan for the rehabilitation of the residents under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in connection with the GR of March 26, 2026. The sudden action of the administration is inhuman and illegal, therefore, the Minorities Commission is requested to impose a stay order on this illegal notice and provide justice to the residents. In this regard, Advocate Zubair of Dhule and the residents have requested that they get justice and a stay be imposed on the illegal demolition notice. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter to the Minorities Commission on the demand of the residents, demanding a stay and a stay on the action.

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