Hyderabad: The 46th annual Shri Ganesh Utsav will take place in Hyderabad from August 27 to September 6. The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi is organizing the event. This year, their focus is on promoting the use of local products, encouraging social harmony, and boosting cultural nationalism. G Raghav Reddy, the Samithi president, officially started the event by performing a Ganesh worship ceremony at their office in Baheti Bhavan, near Siddiamber Bazar.
Ravinutla Shashidhar, spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), mentioned that the Ganesh festival typically brings in around Rs 5,000 crore. Efforts will be made to ensure that Indian professionals benefit from this economic activity. The festival will also feature the Swadeshi Jagran Manch distributing lists of local and foreign products, encouraging the public to choose Indian-made goods.
This year’s celebrations will mark important anniversaries: the 150th of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the 125th of Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, and the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Awareness campaigns promoting unity and nationalism will be held at each Ganesh pandal. Shashidhar assured that despite past challenges, the Shri Ganesh Utsav has always been celebrated grandly and will continue to do so.
M Ramaraju, the committee advisor, expressed concern about the original purpose of the Shri Ganesh Utsav being forgotten. He emphasized the need to educate people about Dharma Raksha (protection of righteousness), Kirtan (devotional singing), and organizational strength during the 11-day festival. Ramaraju stressed that non-believers and “traitors” should not receive financial support from the festival, as such funds could be misused against Sanatanis.
