Navi Mumbai's oldest mandal highlights corruption menace

Shivchhaya Mitra Mandal in Turbhe, the oldest in the settlement city, is celebrate its 42nd Ganeshotsav by focus on the theme of growing dishonesty. The thousands who have been queuing up to catch a glimpse of the 12-ft-tall idol also get a glimpse of quite a few panel that pictorially highlight various controversy, including the Adarsh swindle, the Commonwealth Games, the 2G telecom swindle and Coalgate..

"We try to underline socially momentous themes for the do good to of devotee. This time, we are showcasing how India is decayed due to a choice of attractive fraud scandal. In the latest Coalgate scam, it is difficult to even count the number of 'zeroes' in the corruption figure," said Ankush Vaiti, secretary of the mandal.

commonly known as Turbhecha Raja or Navi Mumbaicha Raja, the hero is fashion by Santosh Kambli, who also design the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai.

In the history few years, several of the theme at this pandal have been subject matter like women's empowerment and the human rights and duty of citizens. This year's theme of forthrightness has been bring to life by art director Nilesh Choudhary.

"When devotee finish their darshan are about to step out of the pandal, mandal volunteers tell them not to connect in any form or dishonesty and help bring back the blond, magnificent past of our country," added Vaiti.

Pandal dates back to 1971

Shivchhaya Mitra Mandal was recognized method back in 1971, just when the city of Navi Mumbai was created by its planners, Cidco.

Earlier, the idol used to be kept at Turbhe Naka, near a stone quarry. However, later the pandal was shift to its current site near Tubhe bus storehouse as a jump over was build at Turbhe Naka.

Dattushet Patil, president of the mandal, said a funfair planned at the venue is a big magnetism and nearly 12 lakh people go to it every year.