Several Ganesh mandals in Mumbai have cancelled their planned mahaprasad programmes this year, citing the financial burden and compliance procedures required under food safety rules issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
Mahaprasad, the community meal or food distribution traditionally organised during Ganeshotsav, is a regular part of celebrations for many mandals. The FDA has issued guidelines intended to ensure that devotees receive safe and hygienic food, making compliance mandatory for mandals organising such programmes.
Under the reported requirements, mandals must register on the FoSCoS portal before organising mahaprasad. The ingredients used to prepare the food, including oil, ghee, gram flour and mawa, must be purchased only from registered traders. Food preparation and distribution must also be handled by a licensed caterer.
The requirements have created difficulties for smaller mandals, which say the costs and procedures involved are difficult to manage. In addition to purchasing ingredients through registered suppliers, mandals would need to meet the costs of engaging a licensed catering provider. The report said several organisers were concerned that non-compliance could lead to action by the FDA.
The issue has also exposed a coordination gap between festival organisers and the food safety administration. The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Coordination Committee wrote to the FDA on July 12 seeking discussions on the rules. However, according to the report, the committee had not received a response by September. The FDA eventually called a meeting for September 7, but most mandals were unable to attend because preparations for the festival were already under way.
For mandals, the immediate question is how to continue a long-standing community food tradition while meeting formal food safety requirements. The decision by some organisers to cancel mahaprasad is therefore not being presented as a rejection of food safety standards, but as a response to the cost, documentation and compliance burden involved in meeting them.
The report also noted increased apprehension among food-related businesses and organisers following heightened vigilance by the FDA administration. Mandals have consequently chosen to avoid the risk of disruption during the festival by cancelling the programme altogether.
The FDA meeting called for September 7 was the next formal opportunity for organisers and the administration to discuss the rules. The supplied report does not establish whether revised procedures, exemptions or financial assistance for smaller mandals will be introduced.
