Idol installation of Khairatabad Ganesha on hold

Plans to install a 27-foot statue of ‘Dhanvantari Ganesha’ for celebrating the Vinayaka Chavithi festival this year at Khairatabad that were announced on Thursday afternoon, were put on hold soon after the announcement with the police stepping in and asking the festival organising committee to wait for guidelines to be issued by the government for the festival’s celebration.

Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Samiti chairman S. Sudarshan Mudiraj and sculptor Rajendar said on Thursday afternoon, said that it was decided to install the Ganesha statue in the likeness of Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of health and one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. “With the Coronavirus situation, we plan to invoke Dhanvantari by installing a 27-foot statue made with clay,” Mudiraj said. Though no clear designs have been made, the idol was to depict Ganesha taking on the Coronavirus.

However, soon after the Samiti announced its plans, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Saifabad, approached the organising committee members and urged them to hold off the plans and wait for government guidelines as it was important to consider the Covid-19 situation in the city, particularly as thousands of devotees visit Khairatabad to see the idol. The committee agreed.

Mudiraj had said earlier that every precaution would be taken to prevent crowds from gathering and people can have virtual darshan of the deity. They can book for the pujas online and see them performed online. “Since devotees will not be allowed to visit to see the idol and pray in person, we are planning to make elaborate arrangements for online broadcast of all the festivities and prayers,” he said.