Slowdown hits Mumbai Ganesh mandals

With the national economy reeling, Ganeshotsav organisers in the city are feeling the pinch.

With the national economy reeling, Ganeshotsav organisers in the city are feeling the pinch — budgets are spiraling and corporate sponsorships are dwindling, while incomes remain stagnant.


At the Andhericha Raja mandal, the expenditure this year has nearly doubled, but revenue from advertisements has fallen by about 30%.

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“This year, our budget has gone up because we are paying more for everything, from labour to security,” said Uday Salian, spokesperson for the mandal.

At the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal, the total expenditure has increased by 25%.

“We have spent 20% more on raw material and labour this year,” said Ashok Pawar, the mandal’s chairperson.

While the richer mandals have managed to offset the increasing costs through the large donations they get, smaller mandals have been forced to cut back.

For instance, members of the Durganagar Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in Jogeshwari have decided to do the set up themselves instead of spending money on labour and decorations.