Statues of Mumbai: Shivaji Putli of Chembur.
The Shivaji Statue that welcomes people to Mumbai on the Pune highway has been a place around which Shiv Sainiks have always congregated (and NCP/Congress on rare occassions).
Recently, two trees near the Statue were removed, the circle behind it was renovated in the Shiv Sena fort decoration style that are seen in their Shakha offices. The renovation looked and felt like a Shiv Sena activitya and it probably is their work. And today, the saffron flags that surrounded is what people associate with Shiv Sena. But it was their brother of the same colour that was organising the event. The BJP.
The Shivsmarak.
There is a huge statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (rivaling the proposed Sardar Patel statue) that is going to come up off the coast of Mumbai. It is going to be a large tourist complex with a statue in the middle. The work on the statue will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister himself. This event at the smaller statue on the highway is part of that inaugural ceremony, a side show. The workers are congregating here from other parts of Maharashtra before they move on to the main event at Chowpatty.
Jalapoojan
They are carrying water from all the all the districts of Maharashtra to the event for a "Jalapoojan" or offering of water ceremony.
With Chatrapati's blessings, support Modi.
A grand and well-planned event. It also looks like an event to transfer the popularity of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj away from the Shiv Sena as well as the Maratha Kranti Morcha, to the BJP which lacks a local icon in Maharashtra.
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| With Chatrapati's blessings, let's support Modi (PM) |
The water from different districts of Maharashtra being taken to the inaugural ceremony of ShivajiSmarak (the official name of the statue in the Arabian Sea)
Shiv Sainiks? No. These are BJP party workers and flags at the the venue.
The Modi Army.
The event is planned as a run up to the most important election in the city. The BMC election in 2017. The newspapers are reporting that the BJP and Shiv Sena will not be allies and will be fighting each other. The fight in the election is going to be interesting.
