Now, register for Ganesh mandal contest till Sept 4 – Times of India

AURANGABAD: The last date to register for the first-of-its-kind state sponsored competition for decorating Ganesh mandals on the social themes during the forthcoming Ganesh festival, has been extended upto September 4.The previous deadline for sending in entries ended on Monday, August 29, but the date was extended to generate awareness about the competition and allow more mandals to participate.The proposed competition will be held at taluka, district and division levels. Education officers with local self-governing bodies have been designated as competent authorities for sending in entries.

Prithviraj Pawar, who heads the apex body of different Ganesh Mandals in Aurangabad said the extended deadline would help spreading awareness about the competition and give mandals time to prepare.

“As the competition is being held for the first time, many mandals are still not aware of it. At our level, we are spreading awareness about the competition and expect a good number of mandals to take part in it. The extension of deadline was also necessary as the official procedures have to be followed,” he said.

The competition, which is being organised to mark 100 years of motivating slogan ‘Freedom is my birth right’ attributed to Indian revolutionary Bal Gangadhar Tilak, has identified literacy, de-addiction, Beti bachao-Beti padhao, water conservation and Swadeshi as themes for decoration of mandals.

The state government has also formed a 23-member committee of non-governmental individuals headed by state finance minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar, to oversee the execution of the competition.

The state department of tourism and culture has appealed to Ganesh mandals to take part in the competition in maximum numbers. Total number of entries sent for the competition so far could not be ascertained. The further details about the competition are available on official website www.cultural.maharashtra.gov.in

Level/ Ist prize/II prize/III prize

Taluka/Rs 25,000/ Rs 15,000/ Rs 10,000

District/ Rs 1,00,000/ Rs 75,000/ Rs50,000

Division/ Rs2,00,000/Rs 1,50,000/Rs 1,00,000