Pune: It seems that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has planned a series of events, such as Dhol-Tasha programme and making of Ganesh idols, only to set records, instead of marking the public celebration of 125 years of the Ganesh festival. 

The civic body had planned the Dhol-Tasha programme on Sunday at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi. However, the programme has been postponed, even as all necessary preparations have been made.

The civic body cited unavoidable circumstances for the postponement. It did not specify the exact reason behind postponing the event in which 5,000 members were to participate. 

According to a message conveyed by PMC public relation officer Sanjay More, the Guinness World Records office did not confirm its presence at the event on Sunday. Hence, the next date will be decided by Mayor Mukta Tilak, in consultation with civic officials and Dhol-Tasha troupes.

This is not the first time that the PMC has failed to hold a planned event in a better manner. The civic body had to shift the venue of the Dhol-Tasha programme from the city to Balewadi due to noise pollution, as around 5,000 Dhol-Tashas would cause noise beyond the permissible limit set by MPCB. 

Also, the event of making clay Ganesh idols was organised on Friday at Baburao Sanas Sports Ground, in which 3,082 students from various schools participated. The Guinness World Records was intimated about this also. The Dhol-Tasha event is not the only programme which was not executed as per plan. The PMC had to face embarrassment when Mayor Mukta Tilak claimed that over 1,000 two-wheelers will participate in a bike rally to mark 125 years of Ganesh festival celebrations.

However, only 200 two-wheelers participated in the much-hyped rally.

When contacted, Tilak said technical confirmation from the Guinness World Records office is yet to come. Hence, the event has been put on hold for the time being. “We are also discussing whether to hold the event without the presence of Guinness World Records team,” she said.