Second year running, brands take a backseat for Ganeshotsav amid curbs

It is Mumbai’s favourite festival and is celebrated each year with fervour and frenzy. But when the city welcomes “Ganpati Bappa” this Friday, the celebrations will be low key.

With a cap on the size of idols, ban on processions and restrictions on devotees visiting pandals, celebrations are toned down for the second year in a row. Festival budgets have shr­unk and as a result, corporate sponsorships have dried out.

“This year, while the situat­ion is much better and many Ganeshotsav pandals have ap­p­­r­oached us, our sense is that devotees will not venture out and will prefer online dars­h­an,” says Mayank Shah,