Holy pandals, unholy mess

Holy pandals, unholy mess
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Ganeshana Habba may be the favourite festival of the city but for residents who live close to the pandals, the 10-day festivities are nothing short of a punishment.

They tolerate loudspeakers blaring bhajans sung to the tune of Hindi and Kannda film songs and the long line devotees who, while waiting for the darshan of the Lord, block the way to their buildings.

While the residents are willing to live with all these problems in good humour, what they can’t come around to accepting are the huge pandals that block vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic.

Trupthi Ravikumar, a resident of Tyagarajnagar, says, ‘‘The 10-minute drive from Chamarajapet takes at least 20 minutes during this festival.’’

The road to her residence is blocked by the pandal constructed by Sarvajanika Ganesha Utsava Mandali.

‘‘The roads won’t be blocked if the mandalis stick to smaller pandals. Also, if they want their celebrations to be grand, mandalis should book playgrounds or fields and organise the festivities there.’’

‘‘I don’t understand how the authorities grant permission for structures that block traffic”.

“The main road is jammed due to the large pandals. Add to that the rush caused by devotees, cars, hawkers, etc. I hate stepping out of the house during Ganesha festival.’’

She now takes more than 20 minutes to reach the vegetable market that is right next door.

Another pandal that blocks almost the entire road in Malleshwaram 12th Cross is the one constructed by Vinayaka Utsava Mandali.

Naveen Kumar, a resident of Malleshwaram, says his daily trips to the office, which is in Sheshadripuram takes longer because of the jam caused by the pandal.

However, Sunil Rajendra, organiser of one of the utsava mandalis on KR Road, says, ‘‘Since there are other alternative routes residents can take, why should they have a problem?

“Also, we are not blocking the entire road. Residents can still use some part it. I know it is not easy, but the situation is not as bad as some people are making it out to be.’’

Meanwhile for residents of a well-known block of apartments on Banneraghatta Road, Ganesh Chaturthi means giving up their parking space.

Every year, they are forced to look for alternative parking space and some of them end up parking on the road.

‘‘The pandals are erected in such a way that bigger cars like Sumos cannot enter the building compound”.

“For the next 10 days, I will park my Sumo at my relative’s house on the next road and walk home,’’ says Manjunath Rao.

But this is not the case in all the areas. Some residents are very supportive and have absolutely no complaints.

K V Kamat, organiser of another pandal at JP Nagar 6th Phase, says, ‘‘The residents of this area support us and are part of the celebrations”.

“I have heard no complaints. We have been organising Ganesha festival for the past 12 years without any problems”.

“Besides, we have left some space for residents to walk and reach the other side.’’

‘‘We have all the necessary permissions from BCC, Traffic department and the area corporators to construct this pandal,’’ says an organiser.

‘‘Besides, residents have alternative routes to drive in and out of their buildings”.

“We leave some space on the footpath for pedestrians. I know the pendal is inconvenient for people who use cars but since it’s a matter of a few days people should co-operate.’’