Source: sify.com
INDIA, August 1, 2010: Every year the Ganesha festival is commemorated with deep fervor in Maharashtra. However, this year the surge in the petrol and diesel-price is likely to affect the ardent devotees.
The murthi makers lament that the price of commodities. Rising prices of petrol and diesel in the last five years, and increased transport charges have affected the price of plaster of paris and coloring, which are required to make a murthi. Higher labor charges have also contributed to the increase prices of Lord Ganesha murthis in the last five years.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which falls on September 11 this year, is also quite popular in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka, as well as in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west. Millions of ardent devotees worship the Lord Ganesha murthis and immerse them into water bodies on the final day.