“We have been organizing Ganesh Utsav in Khairtabad for the last 65 years but we have never experienced a situation like this. My uncle Late Mr. S. Sankarayya was a freedom fighter and believed that Ganesh Utsav celebrations bring people of different cultures and backgrounds together. So in 1954, he founded Sri Ganesh Utsav Committee in Khairatabad in memory of the call given by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to celebrate the Ganesh utsav as it was the only means to bring the people together during the pre-independence era.
Since then, the significance and popularity of our Khairtabad Ganesh Utsav celebrations have only increased with the constant effort of Mr. S. Sudarshan (my brother-in-law) along with the help of our organising committee members and friends. Today, we have devotees across the world and many of them visit this place every year during Ganesh Chaturthi.
But this year, because of the Covid-19 outbreak, we have decided not to conduct Ganesh Utsav in a grand manner.
On the occasion of 66th Khairtabad Ganesh Utsav, we are setting up a nine-foot Clay Ganesh idol with six arms, along with Lakshmi and Saraswati on sideways. The idol theme for this year will be Sri Dhanvantari Narayana avatar, the Hindu god of medicine and an avatar of Lord Mahavishnu.
Also, the prayers will focus on the revival of the world from the pandemic.
People who wish to have Darshan can avail it from home by online means. This is the first time that we have made online darshan arrangements and devotees can book their puja and darshan via our official website.
We understand that there are many devotees who want to attend our Ganesh Utsav celebrations this year but due to ongoing pandemic situation, we have decided not to allow devotees at the venue. Through Humans of Hyderabad, we would like to request everyone to co-operate with us and abide by the state government norms.”
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