Pune: Bathed in glittering lights, Ganapati pandals take on a different hue at night.The main attraction at many of these pandals are jeevant dekhavas (live shows) that continue till midnight. Also, there are less vehicles on the road. These are the reasons why many officegoers and students prefer hopping from one pandal to another at night.We remain busy with work all day. So, we like to visit the pandals late at night. It is also the most ideal time to visit the pandals as they look exceedingly beautiful with the lights on. I try to visit as many pandals as possible during the 10 days of the festival. Many youngsters also like to visit pandals at night, said Chetan Awade, a finance executive in a Pune-based firm.Live show performances based on stories of Chhatrapati Shivaji Mharaj are the most interesting part of pandal-hopping, said revellers. These shows must go on as they attract people to the city from all over the state and country, added Awade.However, pandal-goers said that footfall of revellers has increased even at night. Some claimed to have been stuck at pandals for two to three hours due to large number of people gathering for darshan of Ganesh idols.Many people are coming out on the streets to celebrate the festival after the pandemic. As a result, pandal hoppers have to wade through a huge crowd. There must be some order so that everyone is able to catch a glimpse of the idols, said Rutuja Gaikwad, an IT professional.At some mandals, there is a gathering of 2,000 to 3,000 people even late at night. We decided to go to Laxmi Road to visit the Ganapati mandals and Dadguseth Halwai Ganapati Mandir after 10 pm to escape the rush, but we were surprised to see the area heavily crowded, said Pavan Thorat, a resident of Katraj. I visited at least ten to fifteen pandals in one night and had the most exhilarating experiences, added Gaikwad. We also published the following articles recentlyExpats go pandal-hopping in the cityThe Pune Expat Club and Lexagent organized a Ganesh walk for expats to experience the vibrant culture and heritage of Pune. Around 30 nationals, including French citizens Pierre-Sylvain Gires and Joaquim, participated in the walk. The group visited various iconic pandals in the city and enjoyed the festive atmosphere, including the sounds of dhol and the taste of ukdiche modaks. The walk aimed to help expats understand Indian traditions and appreciate the countrys culture. Preeti Roongta, co-founder of the Pune Expat Club, emphasized the importance of these walks in exploring Indias celebratory side.Go pandal-hopping and modak sampling with these heritage walks in PuneHeritage walks are being organized in the city during Ganeshotsav, offering a chance to explore the lesser-known pandals and learn about the festivals history. Participants can expect to visit iconic pandals, sample traditional snacks and modaks, and learn about the significance of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav. Comfortable clothes and shoes, drinking water, an umbrella or raincoat, and a face mask are suggested items to bring. The walks, which aim to provide a traditional experience of celebrating Ganeshotsav, cost between Rs 470 to 600 per person and last 3.5 to 4 hours, covering a distance of around 4 km.PoP idols rule Hyderabad pandalsDespite efforts by the state government and high court to promote the use of eco-friendly clay idols for Ganesh Chaturthi, most pandals in Hyderabad continue to use Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. Organizers justify their choice by citing the high cost and low availability of clay idols. The demand for PoP idols, especially those above 10 feet, remains high. However, for idols below five feet, many colonies and individual houses have made a conscious effort to opt for clay idols. Environmentalists are concerned about the pollution caused by the immersion of PoP idols in lakes.

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