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Rs 40 lakh, and still counting...

Rs 40 lakh, and still counting...

Author:
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: September 24, 2005
URL: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=2&articleid=92220050572826592220050430750

For the last five days, 100 members of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug, have been busy counting the money and other offerings made to Mumbai's favourite God, Lalbaug Cha Raja. They are only half-way through yet. Santosh Andhale and Pal Pillai take a look at this mammoth exercise, which is expected to go on for another four days at least

1. After school hours, these schoolchildren, who are members of the mandal, come in to help the elders with the counting of bundles. "We have never seen so much money. It's great fun to count," Siddhesh Jagtap, one of the boys, told this paper, obviously happy that the exercise would help him with his math lessons

2. Sunil Joshi, chairman of the mandal, examines a silver `mukut' weighing approximately 2 kg that was offered to the Raja this year. The mandal received two mukuts of this size and several others weighing a little less. Other offerings in gold and silver are chains, rings, modaks, flowers, durva, idols, cradles, miniature homes and a mouse

3. For the first time this year, a devotee offered silver in the shape of bananas, which is believed to be the favourite prasad for Ganapati.

4. The notes counted are put away in bundles in safely-guarded boxes kept in one room. Only five of the total of 10 offerings boxes have been opened, yet the pile of notes is so huge that 100 people have been counting the money in order to finish the exercise by the end of this week. There is round-the-clock police protection provided here.

Hear this one

This year we think we have got about Rs 1.10 crore in donations though the counting process is still on. This is the mandal's 72nd year. Of course, the crowds were huge this time because this year's Ganapati was considered to be wish-fulfiling. A large number of devotees had made come to Lalbaug from outside Mumbai. --Sunil Joshi

Chairman, Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal
Last year, I was the president of the mandal and the rush was just a little smaller than this year. Every devotee wants to touch Lalbaug cha Raja's feet, which is not possible. That's why this year we had a separate team for devotees' safety. The mandal gets about Rs 1 crore in donations but we audit all the accounts. --Sudhir Salvi Active member of the mandal

What does the mandal do with the money?

* All the jewellery is deposited with the Mahanagar Co-op Bank in the safely deposit vault. The jewellery on the idol itself weighs about 15 kg

* All the cash is kept with the Bank of Maharashtra as a fixed deposit

*This year, the mandal has given Rs 25 lakh for the flood-affected in the city

* 800 poor students are given free notebooks

* The mandal `adopts' 75 poor students every year and sponsors their education for the academic year

* Rs 10 lakh is given to BMC hospitals every year

* The mandal has started a computer training centre, where a course worth Rs 3,000 is taught for Rs 300

* Yoga classes started for women

* A gymnasium has been opened for youngsters

* A library inaugurated for students in Lalbaug

* The mandal will construct a Hanuman Mandir in the same lane where the Ganapati idol sits

* The mandal purchased its own generator van, worth nearly Rs 20 lakh, this year


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