From sanitation workers to organ donation: Gujarat’s Ganeshotsav takes a community focus

Surat: Ganeshotsav celebrations in parts of Gujarat took a community-focussed turn this year, with sanitation workers felicitated in Surat, an appeal for organ donation made during the festival and traditional celebrations held in Jamnagar and Vadodara.

At the Kamrej Assembly Karmayog Office in Surat, the idol of Lord Ganesh was installed in the presence of state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya and other officials after prayers and an 'aarti'.

Sanitation workers and their families, who work through the night to keep the city clean, were specially felicitated during the event, while the first 'aarti' was performed by members of the sanitation worker families.

Pansheriya said sanitation staff worked through the night to keep Surat clean and their contribution was important in maintaining cleanliness in the city and across the state.

He called for people to worship together and conveyed a message of social harmony, saying that there should be no distinction between people as big or small.

The event was organised under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, as part of programmes marking 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance and public service journey.

Pansheriya outlined government efforts to take public service and welfare initiatives to the people and prayed for the welfare, health and prosperity of citizens.

He also urged people to ensure that government welfare and healthcare schemes reached those who needed them and could benefit from them.

Linking the festival with a social cause, Pansheriya appealed to people to encourage organ donation during Ganeshotsav so that those awaiting transplants could receive a new lease of life.

He called for greater public awareness and efforts to increase organ donation.

"Leaders and workers from the Kamrej Assembly constituency, along with a large number of people, attended the event," officials said.

In Jamnagar, the Brahma Social Group organised the Open Saurashtra Modak Competition for the 18th consecutive year on Ganesh Chaturthi. A total of 44 participants competed across the children, women, men and senior citizen categories.

The event promoted traditional, homemade and nutritious food while discouraging dependence on junk food. In Vadodara, Lord Ganpati was brought to the Laxmi Vilas Palace as part of the traditional procession of the royal family.

The idol was prepared according to traditional practices and installed at the palace following rituals and prayers.

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