Cameraperson: Gautam Sharma
Video Editor: Ashish Maccune
As the 11-day festival of Ganesh Chaturthi ended on Thursday, 12 September, Mumbaikars bid a teary farewell to Ganpati Bappa until next year. The Quint went to Mumbai’s Lalbaug, the hub of Mumbai’s most prominent Ganesh Pandals, to ask Mumbaikars if Lord Ganesha had to fulfill one wish in regard to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, what would it be.
While many wished for good roads, several Mumbaikars prayed that the Maharashtra state government rethinks its decision to chop off trees in Aarey Colony for the construction of the Mumbai Metro car shed.
“We want them to take care of the streets first. If the roads are good, most problems will be solved. There are other issues as well, but this is what I personally want,” said one devotee.
“My wish is that they had promised development ahead of elections but I don't see it anywhere. We came from Saki Naka but we only see potholes everywhere. From wherever I have come, I can see only potholes,” said a resident of Andheri.
The felling of trees in Aarey colony was also one of the most talked about issues.
“We want vikas, we want development, but not by cutting down trees in Aarey. We want a clean environment as well; it gives us rains. So I pray to Ganpati Bappa that whoever is deciding this gets sadbuddhi (enlightenment), or entire Mumbai will drown,” said Prakash Kirloskar, a resident of Goregaon.
Roads, Aarey colony, farmers and vikas, Mumbaikars are praying fervently for a lot of things, but whether their prayers will be answered by CM Devendra Fadnavis, PM Modi or Ganpati Bappa himself, only time will tell.
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