Devotees from trouble-prone Poonch district gear up to welcome Bappa from Mumbai to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi next week
Kirnabala Isher, along with other devotees from Poonch in Kashmir, seen taking two Ganesha idols from Uday Rane's Vidyavihar workshop last evening. Pic /Shadab Khan
Even as the city gears up to welcome its favourite Bappa next week, over 2,243 km from the city, in the trouble-prone Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, a similar festivity is set to brighten up the mood of the locals and the Indian Army. And, it's the Ganesh idols from Mumbai that will be at the heart of all the celebrations.
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Last evening, for the second year in a row, members of the Prachin Shiv Durga Bhairav Mandir Trust from Poonch took home a 6-feet-tall Ganesh idol, and a smaller replica of the same idol, from a workshop in Vidyavihar. The devotees, who took the train back home this morning, will welcome the idols with much fanfare when they arrive in Pooch the day after.
7 years and counting
While Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have been on for centuries in Maharashtra, locals in Poonch began the tradition only seven years ago. Back in 2010, one of the locals, Dr BK Sharma, who had come home after acquiring a medical degree in Maharashtra, expressed the need to bring a Ganesh idol to the town, which is surrounded by the LoC on all sides. "He loved the way the festival was celebrated in Mumbai and how it brought the entire society together," said Kirnabala Isher, vice-president of the trust, who came to Mumbai to take the idol home.
"Since then, we have not looked back. Every year, there is new zeal and excitement to celebrate this festival," said Isher. Defence officials posted in Poonch district will also be participating in the celebrations. Since last year, the trust has been installing Ganesh idols from Mumbai in its pandal. "It is amazing to see their excitement. I feel so blessed to be part of something that is so wonderful," said Mumbai-based sculptor and artist Uday Rane, from whose workshop the idols were taken.
Kirnabala Isher, vice-president of Prachin Shiv Durga Bhairav Mandir Trust in Poonch, along with (right) idol maker Uday Rane.
Security threat
While locals in Poonch are more than thrilled about the festival, tension continues to hang in the air. Only last year, terrorists had planned an attack at the nearby Army Headquarters, while the celebrations were on.
Though the attack was foiled, local head constable Rajendra Kumar Sharma – a cousin of Isher's – was killed while fighting the terrorists. His martyrdom saved hundreds of locals, who were performing Ganesh puja at the temple, which is around 100 metres from where the incident took place.
"Many of us were trapped inside the pandal as everything had come to a standstill during the attack. The food that was prepared inside the pandal for prasad was later distributed among the Army officials to thank them for guarding us," said Isher. Four terrorists were killed in the crossfiring.
"We all trust the defence officials posted there. They also provide complete security to us. Often, we have soldiers from Maharashtra posted here, who appreciate what we are doing. The celebration reminds them of home," said Isher.
Isher and other devotees took the Swaraj Express from Bandra Terminus early this morning. They will reach Jammu railway station tomorrow evening. "Other locals will welcome us there. We will then begin our journey towards Poonch. On the final day of celebrations, the idol will be immersed in Pulasta river," said Isher. The fact that the same river flows into Pakistan is not lost to the residents of Poonch. "Ganesh's blessings will reach across the border," he added.
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