Festival to go plastic-free for the first time

BANGALORE: The 49th Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava is returning in September this year with 11 days of pomp, pageantry, music and dance by stalwarts like L Subramaniam, Usha Uthup, S P Balasubramanyam, Mano Murthy, Govinda, Kareena Kapoor, Ramesh Aravind, Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Raghu Dixit.The festivities will begin with Ganesh Chaturthi dawning upon us in few days. An integral part of life in India, this festival symbolises unity and what better platform to enliven it than the 49th Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava, a cultural utsava that is organised every year by Sri Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha, a social organisation.Established in 1962 by noted literate Ku Ra Sitaram Shastri, the Bengaluru Ganesh Utsav is now in its 49th year. Patronised by stalwart of Kannada literature, Dr D V Gundappa, Sri Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha has been actively involved in sewing together the sosial and cultural fabric of Bangalore city.While launching the 49th Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava, S M Nandish, managing trustee, Sri Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha said, “For the first time, the fest will be plastic free. With this initiative, we aim to promote a green lifestyle.Our greater aim is to familiarise the present and future generations with the rich history of this country and state that has shaped our culture today. For 48 years, Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava has brought the best of India and Karnataka together, while also celebrating the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. We will be celebrating our golden jubilee next year and look forward to make it large. ” This year, it is from September 1 - 11, 2011 at A P S and National College Grounds, Basavanagudi. The Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava is the only utsava of its kind in Bangalore that brings together art lovers and cultural aficionados. Aromas of Karnataka — the Food Utsava will be the other attraction.“What has shrunk the world? It is none other than the Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava.I have seen the evolution of this festival, through the years of my association with it. The rich cultural heritage that it showcases breathes life into the glorious past and the rich present. It is wonderful to say the least that we are all the citizens of the world. And, what better platform than the Utsava to merge cultures and social causes. This is the ultimate cultural cross over ,” said an ecstatic Usha Uthup.