Crowds throng a brightly lit stretch in Belagavi while visiting Ganesha pandals Sunday
Featuring more than 20 artistes, it highlights the dangers of substance abuse through the story of a student from a rural background who falls into alcoholism under peer influence. Over 25 public mandals organised community meals Sunday. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Belagavi : Ganeshotsava mandals across Belagavi are drawing large crowds with creative social, cultural, spiritual and educational themes, adding to the festive fervour across the city. Devotees are thronging major pandals every evening, keeping roads crowded until late at night as they visit Ganesha idols and thematic installations. Several mandals have come up with eye-catching attractions. A mandal on SPM Road has installed musical fountains that dance in sync with music, while a Ganesha mandal in Vadgaon has recreated a haunted castle. In Shivajinagar, organisers have put up elaborate replicas of prominent religious and cultural landmarks, including Kavale Devasthan near Dandeli and the Swami Samarth Temple at Akkalkot, drawing enthusiastic crowds. Footfall at major pandals surged over the weekend, with crowds gathering from early evening to view idols, thematic displays and decorative lighting. Several mandals arranged refreshments and drinking water for devotees, while food stalls across the city stayed open late into the night to cater to the festive rush. A major attraction this year is a live social-awareness performance staged by Shivneri Yuva Mandal and Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Mandal, Raghunath Peth, Angol. The presentation conveys a strong message about the devastating consequences of addiction and the need for youth to stay away from harmful habits. The blend of devotion, creativity and social awareness has made Belagavi’s public Ganeshotsava celebrations a major attraction, drawing thousands of devotees and visitors from across the city. Several Ganesha mandals are also distributing drinking water, pulao and Mahaprasadam to devotees. Download the TOI App.