The coronavirus failed to dampen the spirit of Mumbaikars as citizens were seen celebrating the Parsi New Year and also prepping for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. From visiting fire temples to offer prayers for Navroz and buying Ganpati idols and decorations, here's how Mumbaikars are celebrating the festivals during pandemic. (All photos/Shadab Khan, Satej Shinde, Ashish Raje, Bipin Kokate)
Updated On: 2020-08-17 08:38 AM IST
Mumbaikars celebrated Parsi New Year on Sunday by greeting each other Navroz Mubarak!
In photo: A Parsi family visits the community prayer hall on the occasion of Navroz!
On the eve Parsi New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the "outstanding" contribution of the community to the country. Taking to Twitter, Modi tweeted, "Navroz Mubarak! Greetings on Parsi New Year. India cherishes the outstanding contribution of the Parsi community, which has made a mark in a wide range of fields. May the coming year bring peace and prosperity in everyone's lives."
President Ram Nath Kovind also conveyed his wishes on the Parsi New Year. While extending greetings, Kovind said that the festival is based on the ideals of goodness in thoughts, words, and deeds. "The contribution of the Parsi community in nation-building and development is a matter of inspiration and pride for all of us," Kovdind tweeted.
In photo: Members of the Parsi community greet each other Navroz Mubarak.
People from the Paris community were seen visiting community halls and fire temples to offer prayers.
In photo: A young member of the Parsi community was snapped by mid-day lensman at a Fire Temple in Tardeo, South Mumbai.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, people in Mumbai were seen thronging to shops to buy Ganpati decorations, imitation jewellery, and accessories. This year, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be a curtailed one due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Ganesh Chaturthi festival begins from August 22, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was also seen doing preparations for the 11-day festival.
In photo: Workers building police towers at Girgaun Chowpatty ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
In order to clear the extra rush of passengers, the Indian Railways will run additional Ganpati Special trains in co-ordination with Western Railway and Central Railway between Ahmedabad/Vadodara and Ratnagiri/Kudal/Sawantwadi Road stations. Trains will also be run between Ahmedabad and Sawantwadi Road, Vadodara to Ratnagiri as Weekly Specials on special fare.
In photo: A shopkeeper draws a circle outside his shop in Dadar to ensure that customers maintain social distancing.
With less than a week to go for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, families in Mumbai were seen bringing home the idols of Lord Ganesha. Armed with face mask and following social distancing norms, an idol maker in Girgaon was seen delivering Ganpati idols to customers a few meters away from his workshop.
Issuing guidelines for the festival, BMC has advised citizens to either do Ganpati immersion at home or postpone it to next year if possible. The civic body has also urged Mumbaikars to install idols made of metal or shadu (natural) clay so that the immersion can take place at home itself.
In photo: A family waits for an idol maker to arrive with the Ganpati idol.
In photo: A family offers prayers to the idol of Lord Ganesh before taking it home.
In photo: A couple clicked with their child at Byculla in South Mumbai.
In photo: A group of young boys snapped while playing football at the Oval ground in Churchgate.
In photo: A reflection of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) can be seen on the waterlogged road after rains hit several parts of Mumbai.
