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Subject: Ganeshotsav begins in Mumbai and Maharashtra
Content:  The city laid out a red carpet for Ganesha, the favourite deity of Maharashtrians, on the first day of the Ganeshotsav in the state on Saturday. Since Ganesh Chaturthi fell on Saturday this year, it is going to be a festive week-end for the Mumbaikars. On the first day, Ganesh idols were installed with much fanfare in hundreds of mandals across the city besides scores of devotees ushering in the elephant-headed lord into their households with a traditional puja. Although there was no particular 'mahurat' for the installation ritual, idols and chants of Ganesha ruled the city roads since morning and the god of wisdom and prosperity was brought in various shapes and sizes donning colourful hues. The idols were seen travelling atop taxis as well as on local trains. Modaks, rice dumplings with sweet stuffing and the lord's favourite dish, were prepared in city households. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh personally performed puja at his official bungalow and installed the idol. Like every year, actor Nana Patekar provided a photo-op to the shutterbugs, when he stepped out of his house to bring Ganesha idol from sculptor's workshop in Central Mumbai.