Here, Ganeshotsav is celebrated 365 days

NASHIK: Two years shy of completing a century, the Ravivar Karanja Mitra Mandal's 'Chandicha Ganesha' (silver Ganesha) installed at Ravivar Karanja, or R K as the busy market square is popularly known, is the pride of the residents of Nashik.
The mandal, unlike others, celebrates the Ganesh festival 365 days of the year. But the forthcoming Ganeshotsav festivities have ensured that the area sports a more vibrant, colourful and illuminated look.
After all, RK is amongst the very few mandals in Maharashtra that have installed a permanent temple of lord Ganesha with a 201kg idol of the god of good fortune and prosperity.
"Following the teachings of freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, a few residents in Ravivar Peth started this Ganesh Utsav around 1912-13. However, it took them five years to get the official 'Ganesh Mandal' status and the nomenclature of 'Ravivar Karanja Mitra Mandal'. We are celebrating the 98th year of Ganesh Utsav this year. Ours is arguably the oldest mandal in Nashik," said Narendra Pawar, head of the organizing committee.
Senior members of the RK Mitra Mandal have many stories from freedom-struggle to share. Many of them cherish the memories of the British Raj when they had to struggle to install the idol, organize nationalistic cultural events, tableaux, and theatrical presentations. The present generation focuses on public service and national interest.
"The RK Mitra Mandal has not only installed a permanent temple, but also a hospital for poor. The Siddhivinayak Charity Hospital provides health facilities to the residents at nominal fees. The needy get free medicines here," Pawar said. The hospital has a computerized pathology lab and modern equipment. It organizes free health check-up camp in tribal dominated villages every year.
The mandal also started a cooperative society in 1991 to promote small savings. To ensure the security of RK square, a very crowded market area in the city, the mandal has installed and maintained 14 CCTVs in premises for years now.
"We follow the ideals set by Tilak. Post independence, the Ganesh Utsav is celebrated to boost national integrity and conservation of traditions. Our installation and immersion processions are taken out amidst the beats of the traditional Nashik Dhol only. This year, we have used only LED bulbs for decoration. This year, our moving tableaux will show Sant Tukaram Maharaj and his devotion to lord Vitthala," said Sandhya Juwalekar, senior member of the management committee. The mandal is planning a state-of-art polyclinic where health services will be provided for free.