It is 'Smoke Free Ganeshotsav' in Mumbai this year
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For the first time since the start of the famous Ganeshotsav, it is a complete smoke-free Ganeshotsav in Mumbai this year as more than 12,000 Pandals (the Hindu religious groups that conduct Ganeshotsav at public places in every nook and corner of the city) have refused to host any banners of companies that sell tobacco products.
The organisers wanted to send out a message to the public, especially the youth, that they are against the use of tobacco. There are aiming for a tobacco-free city.
While the Tobacco Control Act of 2003 bans direct advertising of tobacco products in public places, the advertising of surrogate products by tobacco companies is not illegal. But, the Pandals have refused any sort of sponsorship from these companies.
The organisers of the Pandals have said that this is the first year that they have registered a complete success in their effort to curb these ads. More than 50 volunteers of the organising committee are touring the city to inspect the sponsor banners of more than 12,000 city pandals.
Before the start of the Ganeshotsav festival this year, the organising committee had appealed to the Pandals not to advertise any surrogate tobacco companies. Smoke-Free Mumbai Campaign has organised a 'Smoke Free Ganesh Mandal' competition to boost the cause this year.
