KOLKATA: Ganesh Chaturthi will kick off on Thursday with fervour with more than 1,200 community pujas taking place in Kolkata and suburbs.The event that marks the birth of lord Ganesha has forayed into the festival calendar of Kolkata, riding on the back of a fledgling business community and a scramble among politicians who lack the wherewithal to organise big budget Durga Pujas to mobilise supporters.Barisha Unnayan has organised Ganesh Puja for the first time. “Durga Puja is held with much fanfare here. This year, we are organising a Ganesh Puja to set the tone for the Pujas,” said Rudraprasad Roy Chaudhuri of Barisha Unnayan. The budget of this puja, being held at Chandi Math in Sakher Bazar, is less than a lakh.In Kolkata, Ganesh Chaturthi is usually a curtailed affair with the immersion happening within a couple of days. Amra Kojon on Prince Anwar Shah Road has completed 10 years. “We started small, but with the blessings of lord Ganesha have come this far. It is a big occasion for us,” said Pritam Dutta of Amra Kojon.Maitree Sangha in Salt Lake’s BF and CF blocks has entered its fifth year. “Ganesh Chaturthi set the festive mood ahead of Pujas. We will have cultural events till Sunday,” said Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, who is also the president of Bidhannagar Maitree Sangha club.The festival, also called Vinayaka Chaturthi in Andhra Pradesh, is a major festival for the Telugu speaking community. The 82-year-old Telugu community in the city celebrates Vinayaka Chaturthi in a grand way in its premises off Rashbehari Avenue. The members believe that worshipping Ganesha augurs well, especially for kids and youths.Several city homes have been decked up with 21 types of leaves and flowers and families have got their clothes for the puja.The traditional prasad is prepared with seasonal items like jackfruit . “All prasad items are steamed or boiled and not fried or roasted,” explained Srinivas Vedula, Telugu association president.The puja will end on Sunday. A large congregation of the community is expected to participate and a traditional lunch will be served that afternoon. “Noted vedic literature scholar, Chagarti Koteshwara Rao, will be felicitated,” said Suri Pattabhiram, a senior member of the community. The visarjan will happen at Babughat

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