Several devotees prefer to immerse Ganesh idols at Panchaganga ghat instead of immersion in artificial water tanks !

Ideal Ganeshotsav- Immersion drive at Kolhapur

Fiasco of drive for donation of idols

Kolhapur : Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sanatan Sanstha jointly undertook ‘ideal Ganshotsav’ drive on 10th September at Panchganga ghat. At the same time, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) and ‘Panchganga Ghat Sanvardhan Samiti (PGSS)’ undertook ‘Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav -2016; donation of idols’ drive but the appeal made by HJS and Sanatan Sanstha for immersion of idols as per the science led to several devotees immersing idols in flowing water of Panchaganga River; as a result, the donation of idols drive undertaken by KMC and PGSS turned out to be total fiasco.

The drive was started from 2.00 p.m. at Panchganga ghat. HJS and Sanatan Sanstha created awareness through boards and banners displayed by them explaining that immersion of idols didn’t cause pollution and donation of idols was against science. Devotees were appealed on loudspeakers to immerse idols in flowing water.

Participating ‘Hindutvavadis’ in the drive

Shiv Sena’s MLA, Shri. Rajesh Kshirsagar; Sou. Vaishali Kshirsagar, Shiv Sena’s women-front’s leader, Rhuturaj Kshirsagar, Yuva Sena-leader; Shri. Balasaheb Nigavekar representing ‘kumbhar’ community; Shri. Sanjay Kulkarni of ‘Hindu Mahasabha’, Shri. Shamrao Joshi, national secretary of ‘Brahman Mahasangh’, Shiv Sena’s dy. District-Chief Sambhajirao Bhokare, ISKCON’s Surendra Purekar, ‘Purohit Sanghatana’s Suhas Joshi, ‘Rajaram Tarun Mandal’s Vice President Satish Atigre, ‘Yuva Sena’s district-Coordinator Ranajit Ayarekar, Bajarang Dal’s district-Chief Sambhaji Salunkhe, ‘Daivadnya Samaj’s Gajanan Bhurke, ‘Patanjali Yoga Samiti’s Ghanashyam Patel, ‘Gorakhnath Sampradaya’s Deepak Korade, devout Hindus Nikhil Kambale, Anil Koli, Nitish Kulkarni, Dnyaneshwar Aswale, Ramesh Shinde, HJS’ Madhukar Nazare, Shivanand Swami, Kiran Duse, Babasaheb Bhopale, Amol Kulkarni, Sanatan Sanstha’s Dr. Sou. Shilpa Kothavale, Dr. Mansingh Shinde and Ranaragini Division’s Sou. Anjali Kotgi etc joined this drive.

KMC and PGSS spend Rs. 7 lakhs to see that devotees go against Dharmashastra

Donated idols immersed in Irani quarry !

Big marquee was erected by KMC and PGSS at ghat and devotees were appealed on loudspeaker to donate idols. After devotees donated idols, PGSS was giving them certificate of creating an ideal before next generation by donating idols. (What are KMC and PGSS trying to achieve with their anti-Dharma acts ? Lack of knowledge of Dharmashastra and Dharmacharan is resulting in PGSS committing such wrong acts. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) On receiving idols as donation, the idols were loaded in a tractor-trolly and disposed of in Irani quarry. Activists of PGSS were keeping the idols wrongly in the trolly which resulted in breaking of many idols. KMC had provided 5 tractor-trolleys for transporting donated idols. PGSS had spent Rs. 7 lakhs for erecting marquee at the ghat. (Had this money been used on immersion of idols in flowing water, PGSS would have acquired grace of Shri Ganesh. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) Six artificial water tanks were built at this ghat and 20 activists of PGSS were appointed for collecting idols as donation from devotees. KMC workers were collecting offered flowers etc (nirmalya) from devotees in a ‘kunda’. KMC had also provided JCB at the ghat for loading ‘nirmalya’ in trucks.

PGSS activists start fighting with HJS volunteers because devotees keeping away from donation of idols !

Appeal was being made on behalf of HJS and Sanatan Sanstha for immersion of Ganesh idols at Panchganga ghat which received huge response from ‘Hindutvavadi’ devotees. As activists of PGSS observed that owing to the appeal made by HJS and Sanatan, donation of idols was not taking place as expected by them, around 8.00 p.m., they started fighting with Sanatan seekers and ‘Hindutvavadis’. Sanatan seekers and ‘Hindutvavadis’ were trying to explain to them, the science behind immersion, but PGSS activists were in no mood to listen. They told HJS volunteers against making appeal to devotees for immersion of idols in flowing water and to find some middle-way so that idols would be donated. Seekers tried to explain to them that they should make an appeal for use of idols made of clay and natural colours if they really wanted to prevent pollution of Panchganga River. Seekers asked them about action proposed to be taken by PGSS for prevention of pollution caused due to slaughtering of thousands of goats, on the day of Bakri Eid and all litter thrown in Panchganga River. PGSS activists, however, had no answer and gave some evasive replies.

Highlights

1. Several devotees responded positively to the appeal made for immersion of idols in flowing water and on their way back, they informed seekers about listening to their advice.

2. Many devotees were clicking photographs of boards and banners displayed at the ghat and were forwarding the same to others on ‘Whats app’.

3. Handbills on Ganeshotsav and copies of Dainik Sanatan Prabhat were distributed. One devout Hindu, Shri. Kothmire became subscriber of the daily newspaper.

4. One handicapped devotee was explained science behind immersion in flowing water; then he too immersed idol in flowing water.

5. Many devotees and members of festival committees appreciated the drive undertaken by HJS and Sanatan and said that they were doing good job; they also advised seekers to intensify their propagation.

6. Many seekers informed each other about arrangements made by Sanatan and HJS at Panchganga ghat for immersion of idols.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat