Noida: Ganesh Chaturthi may have its deepest roots in Maharashtra, where the 10-day festival turns neighbourhoods into a sea of idols, music and devotion, but the tradition is finding an equally enthusiastic following in the societies of Noida and Ghaziabad.Across both cities, apartment communities turned the festival into more than a day of puja, with cultural programmes and community gatherings keeping the festive spirit alive. For some societies, the celebrations also marked milestones, including a decade or more of coming together to celebrate the festival.Noida’s Antariksh Golf View-2 (AGV-2) in Sector 78 marked the 10th anniversary of its Ganesh Puja with two days of festivities from Sept 14. Residents came together to design and decorate the pandal and organise a series of events around the puja.“This year’s celebrations were marked by an overwhelming sense of devotion, enthusiasm, and a spirit of community cohesion,” said resident Ranjan Samantaray.Sector 77’s Prateek Wisteria marked the 11th year of its Ganpati Puja, while Aravali Apartments in Sector 34 celebrated the festival for the eighth consecutive year, with the idol installed at the society gate.In Udyog Vihar, Sector 82, residents marked the festival with a grand installation of the Ganesha idol, followed by evening pujas and celebrations which will last 11 days. “It is a festival of brotherhood, unity and harmony. The pandal attracts a large number of residents and the celebrations will continue for all 11 days,” said Mayank Chauhan, RWA president.The celebrations also extended to Greater Noida West, where Nirala Greenshire marked the sixth year of its Ganpati Puja. Resident Kapil Khare said the festivities included the traditional rituals as well as cultural programmes, competitions and activities for children and families. The society will hold the Ganpati Visarjan on Sept 20, the final day of the festival, at 3 pm.Similar celebrations are being held in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram, Vasundhara and Vaishali.With the first round of immersions scheduled for tomorrow, preparations are also underway at designated sites. In Noida, the authority has created makeshift immersion ponds along FNG green belt, commercial and vacant plots across Sectors 46, 74, 78, 105 and 116. In Ghaziabad, the Trans-Hindon Durga Puja immersion ghat has been revamped and readied for the immersions.
