The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued Ganeshotsav 2026 Mumbai guidelines covering fire safety, food hygiene, waste disposal, crowd precautions and environmentally friendly celebrations for public mandals and devotees across the city.
The civic body has asked mandals to keep the areas around Ganesh pandals clean, avoid noise pollution and ensure that fire-prevention equipment is readily available. They have also been instructed not to store inflammable material on pandal premises.
The BMC has appealed to devotees to place flowers and other puja offerings in designated nirmalya kalash instead of disposing of them in ordinary garbage bins. Citizens have also been urged to avoid banned plastic bags and exercise caution while visiting crowded pandals, particularly when accompanied by children.
The guidelines also advise devotees to maintain the sanctity of the festival and avoid alcohol. The sale and consumption of tobacco products have been discouraged. The directions apply alongside instructions issued by the Mumbai Police, according to the civic body.
Food safety requirements have been specified for public festival mandals, their officebearers and food business operators preparing or distributing prasad. The BMC said these activities must comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations notified in 2011.
Mandals have been directed to buy raw materials and food items for prasad only from licensed or registered food business operators. Fruits used as prasad must be sourced from known licensed or registered dealers, and raw, rotten or spoiled fruits must not be used. Water used in preparation must be fit for drinking, while caterers must hold the required licence and prepare food in clean and hygienic premises.
The civic body has warned citizens to exercise caution while purchasing sweets and products made with khoya or mawa. Food Safety Officers and other concerned officials are expected to inspect food preparation and distribution facilities, and mandals have been asked to cooperate with them and follow their instructions.
Residents with complaints or concerns about food or prasad can approach the Food Safety Officer, Assistant Commissioner, designated officer or Medical Officer of Health in the concerned BMC ward. For emergencies, the civic body has directed citizens to contact its control room through helpline number 1916.
The BMC has also urged mandals and devotees to choose eco-friendly idols, use artificial ponds for immersion where possible and select environmentally friendly colours and decoration materials. It has specifically advised replacing thermocol with paper or other eco-friendly materials. The civic body said all instructions issued by the BMC and Mumbai Police must be followed during the festival.
