Dombivali's Tilaknagar Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal is featuring an unusual theme this year, celebrating the unique culture and lifestyle of India's Northeast. The 69-year-old mandal has created a float featuring the Naga lifestyle. Organisers say this has been done featuring an eco-friendly décor and zero use of thermacol.
Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav isn't something new for this mandal; every year, they explore the country's various different cultures, and depict them during the 10-day festivities. To continue the tradition this year, they have chosen to bring to life the culture of Nagaland. "Not many people in Mumbai know much about the Northeast, or how people there live. We thought this would be the right platform to inform them about this part of the country," said Himanshu Joshi, treasurer of the mandal.
Choosing this theme also helped keep things more eco-friendly. To recreate the Naga theme, they used a tribal hut replicas using wood and cloth. "Even last year, we went environment friendly, but we used a little bit of thermacol. This year, we have completely eliminated thermacol use," Joshi said.
To decorate the setting, the mandal organisers roped in Bollywood art director Sanjay Dhabade, who has previously worked on the Sunny Deol film Gadar. The float shows Naga huts, home decor, hunting equipments, etc., which are made of wood and bamboos. "The entire decoration was done in three days," Joshi added.
Festivities at this mandal are a simple and traditional 10-day affair. "We have a two-foot idol constructed with shaadu earth. During our cultural programmes, we won't be using Djs or loudspeakers. Our Ganeshotsav celebrations are as per what Lokmanya Tilak envisaged," he said.
To further their cause, they are also trying to rope in students who hail from the Northeast to participate in the visarjan on the 10th day. "We are in talks with a hostel where students from Northeast stay. We have invited them to don their traditional attire and join us for the visarjan, in order to give it a more authentic turn," he added.
DOMBIVALI GANPATI
A replica hut built entirely using wood and bamboo has been built, showing Naga homes, hunting equipment, etc. There is an eco-friendly two-foot idol, and zero thermacol usage at this mandal.
