Visakhapatnam: The much-anticipated Ganesh Chaturthi has come and the stunning Ganesh pandals, which promise to be a feast for the eyes, are ready to welcome Vizagites. A growing sense of excitement is visible among the festival organisers preparing for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Last year, the city showcased magnificent statues, such as the 117-foot-tall Gajuwaka Ganesh and the attention-grabbing Chocolate Ganesh at RK Beach. Each year, Visakhapatnam's streets come alive with creative Ganesha idols and pandals, and this year, despite the natural calamities, there is even more enthusiasm for the festival.
The city is excited as the organisers of last year's pandals are expected to introduce unique and spectacular features this time. The 'Chocolate Ganesha' at RK Beach was a showstopper last year. It was installed by Peraapu Raju, a shopping mall owner. This year, he aims to captivate the city again by setting up Ayodhya Ram temple-themed pandals in Vizag. A special 'Bala Ganapati' has been brought to Visakhapatnam and artisans from Kolkata are working on this model. "The idol set up in our pandals will be India's largest seated Ganapati. We are showcasing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir set made entirely of bamboo. It is 120 feet tall and 100 feet wide," Raju explained.
A charitable trust has crafted a 75-foot-tall jaggery statue with jaggery sourced from Rajasthan. This magnificent creation will be displayed from September 7 to 28, accompanied by a Ferris wheel, a fun ride, and food stalls to attract devotees during the festival.
The 'Gajuwaka Ganesh' is renowned for its grandeur and size and for drawing huge crowds. The Gajuwaka Ganesh Utsava Committee has been erecting tall idols for 11 years. Last year, the 117-foot Sri Ananta Panchamukha Maha Ganapati was the main attraction, and this year, an 89-foot statue made of eco-friendly materials like bamboo, red clay, sand and grass will take its place. A 14-foot chocolate Rama statue will be showcased at this pandal. The idols stay at the pandal for 21 days and are immersed using water from holy rivers. Visakhapatnam is set to host even more exciting Ganesh festivals this year.
