Nagpur: Lord of Wisdom, Vighnaharta, Ganapati Bappa commenced his 10-Day earthly sojourn on Monday with thousands and thousands of Nagpurians welcoming the deity into their homes and Sarvajanik pandals with enthusiasm and fervour.
The festival commenced with devotees installing colourfully-crafted idols of their most beloved and venerated deity, Ganesha, in their homes and beautifully decorated pandals across the city. The mood was full of gaiety and devotion, with chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ reverberating across the city.
Joining the devotees, the Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari installed an idol of Lord Ganesh at his Mahal-based residence “Gadkari Wada” at a perfect ‘Muhurth’ and amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. Gadkari is a devout of Bappa and installing the idol of Vighnaharta since years during the 10-Day Festival.
Reaching the city specially for Ganeshutsav and talking to media, Gadkari said that he has sought blessings of Lord Ganesh and prayed for the well-being of the country and citizens. “Honest efforts are being made for overall development of Vidarbha as well as other parts of the country. The Yog Guru Baba Ramdev is setting up a Food Park in MIHAN and the bhoomipujan will be performed on September 10, 2016. 80 percent of Maharashtra’s forest cover is in Vidarbha. The forests are rich with a variety of medicinal plants. Baba Ramdev will purchase these medicinal plants from native adivasis and later Ayurvedic drugs will be manufactured out of them. The project will provide employment to over 20,000 local people,” The minister stated.
“Apart from Ayurvedic medicines, food processing units will also be developed in Nagpur. This venture will not only provide fresh fruit juices to people but will also create job opportunities in the region. The Yog Guru Baba Ramdev is Brand Ambassador of Swadeshi and Ayurvedic Culture. The foreign companies take away Rs 70,000 crore annually in the form of royalty. But with the efforts of Baba Ramdev, the royalty will remain in our own country,” Gadkari asserted.
