Belagavi: With just a day left for Ganesh idol installation, festive fervour swept across Belagavi city on Saturday. Markets witnessed a massive rush as residents flocked to buy idols, puja materials, flowers, decorative items, lighting accessories and other festival essentials. Shops and roadside stalls remained crowded throughout the day, with traders reporting brisk business ahead of the celebrations. The city’s commercial hubs buzzed from morning till late evening, reflecting the excitement and anticipation surrounding the upcoming Ganesh festival.Ganesh mandals and households have completed the final round of preparations for idol installation. Shoppers thronged markets to buy Ganesha idols, decoration materials, electrical lighting and ritual items, adding to traffic congestion across the city. Residents complained about inconvenience caused by overcrowded roads and inadequate parking facilities near major market areas.Key commercial stretches, including Maruti Galli, Ganpati Galli, Pangul Galli, Bapat Galli, Khade Bazaar and Kadolkar Galli, remained packed with customers from early morning till late evening. Stalls selling Ganesh idols, decorative materials, lighting accessories and puja essentials attracted thousands of buyers preparing for the festival.A wide variety of decorative items, including LED lights, velvet fabrics and themed ornaments, flooded the markets. Traders said business has picked up sharply as households and public Ganesh mandals intensified preparations for the celebrations.Sales of cloth garlands, pearl garlands, plastic flower garlands, wall hangings and Ganapati seats were brisk. Traders said prices of flowers, fruits and decorative items have risen by 15% to 20% compared to last year.The crowd is expected to swell further over the weekend as many residents have planned last-minute purchases ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. With Saturday and Sunday coinciding with the final days before the festival, traders are expecting record footfall in the city’s commercial centres.The festive shopping rush also led to a sharp increase in vehicular movement. Several major roads witnessed traffic snarls, forcing motorists and pedestrians to navigate congested stretches. Many commuters reported delays during peak hours.Anticipating larger crowds and heavier traffic, police and traffic authorities are gearing up to ensure smooth vehicular movement and maintain order in busy market areas during the festival period.
