All set for grand Shiv Jayanti celebrations

Nashik/Kolhapur: People across the state are all set to celebrate Shiv Jayanti on a grand scale on Frb 19.In Kolhapur, several processions and skits have been planned for Thursday. On Wednesday, members of groups, mandals, and old talims in the city were seen gearing up for the festivities. Stalls selling saffron flags, pheta, and saffron shawls were set up at various market areas like Mahadwar Road, Papachi Tikti, Laxmipuri, Bindu Chowk, Mirajkar Tikti, Rajarampuri, etc.The Mavala group at Mirajkar Tikti, has been staging 'Vadalvat Hindvi Swarajyachi', between Feb 17 to 19. The Shivaji Tarun Mandal has created a grand replica of the historical fortress at Ubha Maruti Chowk. The mandal has also organised a grand procession in a traditional manner on Shiv Jayanti.Meanwhile, a mega padayatra (My Bharat-Mera Yuva Bharat) has been organised at the Panhala Fort on Feb 19 on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. This programme has been planned by the Kolhapur district administration as per the guidance of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt of India.District collector Amol Yedge said, "Residents, especially youths and students from the district, are urged to participate in the event. This mega padayatra will start from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj temple near the Panhala Municipal Council and will go to Mayur garden. About 2,000 students, along with govt and semi-govt employees, will participate in this padayatra. Not only the walk, but also a blood donation camp has been organised on Feb 18 and 19."In Nashik, over 2,000 police personnel and home guards have been deployed across the city. Senior police officers said more than 2,000 police personnel, 500 home guards, and teams of striking force and Quick Response Team (QRT) will be stationed to tackle any unforeseen incident.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti will be celebrated on an enthusiastic note all over. The main attraction every year is the processions that is taken out in Nashik's old city area. This year, the main procession will start from Wakdi Barav and traverse through Jahangir Masjid, Dadasaheb Phalke Road, Mahatma Phule Market, Doodh Bazaar Chowk, Bhadrakali Market, Gadge Maharaj statue, Main Road, Dhumal Point, Sangli Bank Signal, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Meher Signal, Ashok Stambh, Raviwar Karanja, Holkar Bridge, Malegaon Stand, and end at Panchavati Karanja.In view of the traditional procession, no traffic will be allowed on this route from 3am onwards until the end of the procession. The police have appealed to bikers and four-wheeler drivers proceeding from Dwarka towards Shalimar, CBS, to use the Sarda Circle, Gadkari Signal, Trimbak Naka route. Motorists from Panchavati to Malegaon Stand will use the Peth Naka, Makhmalabad Naka, Baijabai Chhavni Ramwadi route and move towards Chopda Lawns, Old Gangapur Naka Signal, and Old CTB Signal. Motorists from Gangapur Road towards Ashok Stambh should use the Old Gangapur Naka Signal, Chopda Lawns route to move towards Panchavati, and vehicles moving towards CBS or Mumbai Naka from Gangapur Road will use the Old Gangapur Naka, Old CTB Signal, and Mico Circle. The traffic diversion will be in place from 10am until the end of the procession.In Nashik Road, the stretch from Bytco Chowk and Sinnar Phata, and the stretch from Railway Station towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue, will be closed for traffic. The road from Bytco Junction to Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk, Jail Road, and from Nandur Naka to Bytco will be closed for traffic from 9am onwards.In view of the Jayanti celebrations at Pathardi Phata and surroundings, the police effected traffic diversion from 3pm to midnight. Motorists moving from Pathardi village towards Pathardi Phata and further towards Satpur should use the Pathardi Phata-Garwa Hotel, Express Inn Hotel, and Pandavleni vehicular underpass.