Ganpati mandals cut their budget by 50% due to swine flu fear

Expect thinner crowd this year due to swine flu scare in Pune

Ganesh mandals in the city have cut their budgets by 50 per cent this year, as they expect the crowds to be thinner due to the swine flu scare.u00a0u00a0 Anna Thorat, president of Akhil Mandai Mandal, the organisers of the prestigious Manacha Ganpati in Phule Market, said that decorators, set designers, flower sellers and music bands are likely to be most affected by the downsizing. "Over 3,000 hawkers come to Pune every year to cater to the requirements of the mandals. Their business is bound to suffer," added Thorat.



Anand Saraf, a social activist who has studied the Ganesh festival from an economic angle, said cost-cutting is inevitable because income from donations as well as entry fees is bound to go down drastically due to the swine flu situation.

Balasaheb Marne, president, Babu Genu Mandal, who gave up his plans of erecting a lavish set designed by noted Bollywood set designer Nitin Desai, admitted, "The fear of swine flu has pushed us towards an economic crisis. We are collecting Rs 3,100 from each mandal volunteer so we don't fall short of funds," said Marne.