In the light of Wednesday's serial blasts, Ganpati mandal organisers are taking a slew of steps to ensure a safe Ganesh Chaturthi

shaken by the bomb blasts of July 13, and unsure of the promises of security by policemen, Ganpati mandal organisers are going all out to ensure a safe Ganesh Chaturthi.

The festival, which starts on September 1, is one of Mumbai's biggest celebrations, with the Lalbaugcha Raja mandal in Lalbaug itself getting on an average, one crore devotees within 10 days of the festival.
As Rajendra Lanjwad, treasurer for Lalbaugcha Raja, informs, given the terror attack, the organisers are holding a slew of meetings to ensure watertight security.



Other mandal organisers are also reconsidering their security arrangements, with some appointing private security guards to man mandals 24/7, and others going further thanu00a0 fitting metal detectors at the darshan sites.
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For instance, the Sewree Ganpati Mandal will hire security professionals from private companies, who will scan every bag carried by devotees. Vehicles will not be allowed within the premises, other than those owned by the organisers. All this, to avoid a situation like on Wednesday, when bombs were placed inside vehicles. "Mandal vehicles will carry a sticker that will allow them to park within the premises. Others will be turned away," said Prashant Thakle, secretary of the Sewree Ganpati Mandal.

The organisers of Silver House Ganpati Mandal in Kemps Corner plan to have guards to monitor activities at the mandal and keep an eye out for anti-social elements. These guards will work in shifts 24/7, informed Jubba Shaikh, president of Silver House Ganpati Mandal.