Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) recently joined hands with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) for the grand celebration of Ganeshotsav. The ten-day festivity which came to an end recently witnessed a number of people across the city come together to bid adieu to Lord Ganesha at the grand immersion ceremony at Girgaum Chowpatty.
Looking at the past interest received from the international travellers and to position the festival on the global map, MTDC had arranged a free-of-cost trip for global visitors across the city. International tourists participated by registering on MTDC website in return MTDC had also tied up with Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations in India (FHRAI) to get foreign tourists for grand immersion ceremony at Girgaum Chowpatty.
Additionally, MTDC and MCGM provided facilities including AC deck, First Aid Facilities, clean drinking water, mobile toilets, bus transport, and refreshments for the travellers. There were four pick up points for international tourist which were Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, near the Gateway of India, MTDC Information Counter, Opposite Hotel Trident Nariman Point, BEST Bus Depot, near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhatiya Baug Bus Depot, Asiatic Store, Opposite Churchgate Station, BEST Bus Stop.
MCGM had positioned 490 iron sheets around 5,500 square meters of the area at Girgaum Chowpatty. More than 1,400 municipal staff was present at the location. Besides this, 10 CCTV cameras and five watchtowers have been installed to safeguard the visitors during the immersion ceremony.
Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra said, “I am pleased to experience the best of our state’s rich legacy and culture. The separate pavilion has been created for international visitors to observe the grand immersion ceremony. We have received an overwhelming response from overseas travellers in terms of online registration on MTDC’s website. Tourists can witness the Ganesh idols across the city at Girgaum Chowpatty which will positively display the historic celebrations of the festival over the years.”
Vijay Kumar Gautam, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Government of Maharashtra added, “The aim is to make this festival a global event, so we have invited international tourists to join through MTDC registration facilities for the Ganesh Visarjan 2018. We have made a distinct pandal for the international tourists at Girgaum Chowpatty and I thank Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations in India (FHRAI) for assisting us to get foreign tourists for a grand immersion ceremony where they can get a glimpse of the well-known Ganesh idols across the city. I am confident that the festival will fascinate many more tourists in Maharashtra.”
Suhas Diwase, Managing Director, MTDC said, “When it comes to Ganeshotsav, the whole of Mumbai enjoys the spirit of festivity. We are pleased to collaborate with MCGM to accommodate Global tourists and give them an experience of the popular festival. The festival brings along with it a lot of excitement and enthusiasm amongst devotees. The initiative of the Grand Immersion Ceremony will not only increase tourism activities in the state, but also give an opportunity to tourists from outside the state to be a part of the festivities.”
