PUNE: It is time to bring your beloved Bappa home, forget the pandemic blues and show how Ganeshtosav can be celebrated with the same fervour while following all safety precautions.
Last year, amid the pandemic, The Times of India found an innovative way of celebrating the festival with its readers. The initiative was well received with more than 1.2 lakh users across Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur interacting on the special website. This year, we are scaling up the “TimesBappa” celebrations by adding interactive sections and engaging contests.
All you have to do is visit www.TimesBappa.com either on your laptops or cellphones, create and customize your own Ganapati avatar using various options of idols, backgrounds, décor, sweets, fruits and the other paraphernalia.
Your ‘Bappa’ can be shared with friends and family via social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. Multiple Bappa creations can be designed and decorations of your idol can be changed every day. On the last day, a digital Visarjan can be done.
We have added new contests this year. For Selfie with Bappa, click a selfie with your idol and submit as an entry and get votes. You can paint or draw your own Bappa and submit your original artworks to get votes.
Ganesh mandals that have put up pandals following all the pandemic restrictions imposed by the civic body and government can share Bappa’s image with all the details and get votes.
The best Bappa creations and contest entries will be published weekly in TOI. Most voted contest entries will win amazing vouchers every day and a leader board will be visible on the website which will list top voted entries.
The pandemic may have restricted the celebration, but you will not miss attending the aarti or darshan of your favourite Bappa. We have the ‘Live Darshan and Aarti’ tab which will live stream aartis from famous pandals/temples around the city.
But that is not all. Since Lord Ganesha is the patron of all arts, we have arranged a digital art gallery this year. Around 100 artworks from renowned artists around the country have been added in this section. TOI in partnership with ArtZolo.com also gives you an opportunity to become an esteemed owner of a Bappa masterpiece from the collection on display.
