Pune: More than 51 Ganesh mandals in the city participated in the ‘Vighnaharta Raktadan Mahayagya’, a blood donation and awareness drive conducted at 16 locations simultaneously on Sunday (August 30). This initiative was planned considering the shortage of blood supply in the city.

A staggering eight hundred activists donated blood in this initiative conducted to raise social awareness. At the same time, the Ganesh mandal workers took an oath that they would ensure that the city will run out of blood supply.

In the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, Ganesh mandals emphasized on celebrating the 10 day festival of Ganeshotsav in a simple and low key manner this year. However, the tradition of constructive work was continued by the mandals. As there was a shortage of blood in the city on the backdrop of Covid-19 outbreak, 51 Ganesh mandals of the city came together and organized ‘Vighnaharta Raktadan Mahayagya’ on Sunday.

However, the blood donation camps were held simultaneously at different locations. Workers from all ganesh mandals had gathered at Saraswati Mandir School on Bajirao Road. There they took an oath to not let the city run out of blood. At this time, the workers raised awareness about blood donation through painting and holding placards in their hands.

Piyush Shah, Shirish Mohite, Rahul Kamthe, Mayur Pote, Amit Jadhav, Akshay Malkar, Jayesh Pandit, Rohit Dhavade, Kiran Soniwal, Umesh Sapkal, Pritam Shinde, Kunal Pawar, Nitin Shendge, Amol Sarangkar, Ravi Kirve, Prithviraj Yelwande, Vishal Dhanwade, Hanu Shinde, Chetan Chavan, Gopal Yemul, Sunil Marane, Sagar Madchetti and Hershal Pardeshi took efforts to make this initiative successful.

A total of 51 mandals including Shri Siddhivinayak Mitra Mandal Vishrantwadi, Shri Ganesh Mitra Mandal Kondhwa, Yugandhar Mitra Mandal Anandnagar, Kal Bhairavnath, Pangul Aali, Potsulya Maruti, Navjawan Mandal, Navjyot Mitra Mandal Yerawada, Sainath Mandal and Bal Vikas Mandal Budhwar Peth, Jagobadada Talim Mandal participated in this event.