Rain on eve of Vinayaka Chavithi fails to dampen festive spirit in Vizag

The day-long rain in the city on Tuesday failed to dampen the Vinayaka Chavithi spirit as a large crowd thronged the markets to purchase Ganesh idols and the puja paraphernalia on eve of the festival.

Poorna Market, among other big markets of the city, was bustling with activities as people carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats did the puja shopping even as the vendors did brisk business.

Braving rain, girls selling decorative items for Vinayaka Chavithi, at Poorna Market in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
K.R. DEEPAK

Numerous stalls were set up across the colonies and markets, displaying beautifully crafted Ganesh idols of various sizes. While most idols are made of clay, Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols were also available. Though the rains impacted the morning sales, vendors saw a significant pickup in business by the evening as the rain stopped.

“Monday and Tuesday morning’s rain did affect our sales, but most people tend to shop till the festival day. So, we are still hopeful,” said Padmavathi, a vendor selling idols near the Rythu Bazaar in MVP Colony.

In several localities, enthusiastic pandal organisers were seen heading out with vehicles to collect idols from artisans. Although there was concern about the continuous rainfall, a sudden break in the weather brought renewed enthusiasm. At China Waltair, youth were seen busily preparing pandals, taking pictures, and sharing the excitement on social media.

This year, Visakhapatnam will showcase a number of grand idols, including a standout installation at Lanka Grounds, the ‘Sundara Vastra Maha Ganapathi’, adorned with one lakh sarees, organised by SV Entertainments.

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said that 1,097 permissions have been granted to organisers through the GVMC Single Window Clearance Cell set up at the GVMC Head Office and all Zonal Offices.

Applications received from residents, welfare associations, NGOs, voluntary organisations, and festival committees seeking permission to conduct Ganesh festival within GVMC limits. The applications were reviewed by officials from the Town Planning, Fire Services, Electrical, Sanitation and Zonal departments, and only then the permissions were granted, he said.