Temple town gears up for Ganesh Chaturthi festivities

Tirupati: Temple city witnessed a beehive of activity as hundreds of people thronged to the roads to make festival shopping on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi on Sunday. The busy Gandhi Road, Tilak road, Indira Priyadarsini Vegetable Market Road, RC Road and other roads leading to several colonies were jam-packed with sellers and buyers of puja material.

The vendors have reached the city from Saturday evening to occupy convenient places. But, they faced severe hardship due to sudden rain during the night. People found it difficult even to walk freely on these roads and the rush has increased multi fold by evening on Sunday.

Police have imposed traffic restrictions and did not allow even two wheelers on Gandhi Road. Buyers found the prices of various material like fruits, flowers, sugar canes etc., are skyrocketing, but could not resist themselves from purchasing. Pandals were set up at several street corners to place huge Ganesh idols by Monday morning to celebrate the festival.

AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has set up a centre to distribute clay Ganesh idols freely to the denizens. It was inaugurated by 'Vinayaka Nimajjana Committee' convenor Samanchi Srinivas. APPCB Executive Engineer A Narendra Babu along with other officials took part.

Vinayaka Nimajjana Committee members P Naveen Kumar Reddy, Maganti Gopal Reddy and others were present. Tirupati Municipal Corporation has arranged 'Go Green Ganesha' in which several children made clay Ganesh idols. Municipal Corporation Commissioner PS Girisha, TUDA Chairman Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and others were present.