AN APPEAL

Dear Devotees,
It’s that time of the year when our Maha Ganapati arrives to bless us. The festivities and the vigor with which we all come together in Mumbai from all walks of life, and celebrate it together cannot be replicated anywhere else in in the world.
Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the circumstances in Mumbai around us, we have to just like last year celebrate the festival adjusting to the ‘new normal’. As per the directives of the Government of Maharashtra and the permissions granted and guidance given to us by the Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, we will follow the pandemic restrictions & COVID-19 appropriate behavior to benefit the society at large. This year’s Ganeshotsav is our 67th year celebration and our 5-day program will begin from Friday, the 10th September 2021 to conclude on Tuesday, the 14th September 2021.
We will remain forever indebted to our Revered H.H. Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji and the present Mathadhipati H.H. Shrimad Samyamindra Tirtha Swamiji, with whose blessings, inspiration and guidance we have been able to perform this luminous festival with pomp, splendor & in a Dharmic way. As in the past, prayers will also be offered at the Ubhaya Vrindavans at Walkeshwar Sri Kashi Math for the Safety, Health & Prosperity of all Lord Mahaganapati Devotees.
Last year's Ganeshotsav celebrations saw us perform over 22000 poojas all booked by devotees (through Online Booking mode) far and wide , which included certain poojas being offered symbolically to keep up with our Tradition and Culture. The surplus funds accumulated over the years have helped us carry forward our various socio-religious activities, viz. Educational Freeship, Medical Assistance, Marriage Assistance, Samuhik Upanayan, Adhyatmik Shibir, , etc.
This year due to the pandemic, we have whole heartedly pitched in with ‘Anna-Dana” activity by preparing food for the needy and affected people for the last over two months. We are proud to have prepared and distributed nearly 1000 food packets per day. We have started the Santusht Anna Dana Seva a charitable initiative at 3 Govt hospitals in Mumbai & Thane to ease the situation around and with the motive that nobody should sleep hungry. Atleast 60,000 + food packets have been distributed to the relatives of the patients since there was no alternative arrangements for food during the lockdown. We have also made substantial donations to the PM Care Fund, CM Relief Fund, and provided financial assistance to needy families and devotees during the pandemic. Recently we have provided necessary household articles to the Tauktae Storm affected people in Kerala for their rehabilitation.
We will continue in our endeavor to work for every strata of our society during these trying times.
GSB Seva Mandal has organized Vaccination camps across Mumbai, Thane, & Palghar Districts & also certain areas in Kerala for citizens over the last month benefiting over 4500 citizens of Mumbai & about . Such camps are still in progress and will be regularly held.
Our long-cherished Health Care project at Versave near Mira Road, has been approved by the Municipal Authorities and we are proud to announce that we have already completed work like soil testing etc. The Bhoomi Poojan & Foundation Stone laying ceremony was performed by the Divine hands of our Parampoojya Swamiji on 10th December 2020. It is our strong desire to complete this dream project prior to 2024 and dedicate it back as a social responsibility towards the citizens of Mumbai Metropolitan Region where we have lived and prospered for so many years now.
As mentioned above, this year too, we would be providing a live relay of the celebrations and Poojas performed at the venue. With this, the devotees can participate and pray online from their residences directly itself. The pooja / seva prasad will be delivered to their residence through courier. Bookings for your Seva/Pooja can be done online on www.gsbsevamandal.org and a pooja booking app will be made available. You can download it from the Playstore/AppStore or you may log on to our webstie www.gsbsevamandal.org. Further details about the celebrations, types of poojas, tariff, etc. will be intimated to you in due course as we get fresh guidelines from the Government authorities.
It's been our privilege to have you as a backbone of our celebrations and be a part of it through your Sevas / Poojas, You have also witnessed the sanctity, pious environment and traditional customs with which we organize this festival. This encourages us to feel assured that you would come forward this year as well to book your seva to Lord Ganesh with us and we seek your full-fledged support for the same. We pray that our Maha Ganapati will bless us all and inspire us to perform His Seva in a pomp and befitting manner. We look forward to your wholehearted support and active participation, in the form of Tana-Mana-Dhana.

 

Yours in devotion
For 67^th Shree Ganeshotsav Celebrations Committee
Convenor: DR. BHUJANG U. PAI
Jt. Convenors: SHRI G. DAMODAR RAO, SHRI RAGHUNANDAN S. KAMATH
SHRI M. V. KINI, SHRI GANESH U. PRABHU

For G. S. B. Seva Mandal