As the Navratri festival begins, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised ‘Marathi Dandiya’ at Mumbai’s Kala Chowkie, an area known as the bastion of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and which has a sizeable Marathi population. This will be the second ‘Marathi Dandiya’ in the area and will see Hindi and Marathi film celebrities and actors in attendance.
Last year, actor Ranveer Singh, music composure Avdhoot Gupte and others had attended the event.
The BJP has alleged that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government did not support the celebration of Hindu festivals, while giving permission for celebration of festivals of other religions.
The BJP has decided to promote Hindu festivals, including Dahi Handi, Ganesh Festival, Navratri and Diwali with much fervour. During Covid, the former MVA government had denied permission for celebration of festivals keeping the safety of people in mind, which had upset many.
उत्सव आदिशक्तीचा…जागर मराठी मनाचा… भाजपा मुंबई आयोजित भव्य मराठी दांडिया महोत्सव वर्ष दुसरे लवकरच सुरू होत आहे !
स्थळ : अभ्युदय नगर काळाचौकी मुंबईदिनांक : १९ ऑक्टोबर ते २३ ऑक्टोबर #MarathiDandiya pic.twitter.com/5SrzmUmFJp
— BJP Mumbai (@BJP4Mumbai) October 14, 2023
Kala Chowkie area in central Mumbai has been a stronghold of Shiv Sena for a long time. It is connected with Maharashtrian-dominated areas such as Sewree, Lalbaug, Parel etc, where Thackeray-led Sena has its support base. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls inching closer, the BJP is also trying to attract the youth in the area. Despite the split in the Shiv Sena, central Mumbai still supports the Thackeray faction.
According to the sources, the BJP leadership has instructed party workers to focus on this event and make the celebration special. It is a clear indication that the BJP in the state has started its poll preparation in Maharashtra way before other parties in the state.
Earlier, the BJP had also organised train and bus services to Konkan region for devotees during the Ganesh festival.
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