Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza |Opening Doorz Editorial| August 22, 2025

Picture a bustling pandal in the heart of Mumbai during Ganesh Utsav: vibrant decorations, chanting devotees, and the aroma of incense filling the air. Suddenly, a minor spark goes unnoticed amidst the crowd, quickly turning into a scene of chaos as people scramble for safety. This harrowing scenario underscores the importance of blending faith with safety during celebrations.

The Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI) emphasises this need, and the 14th Safe & Secure Ganesh Mandal Awards honour mandals committed to both devotion and comprehensive safety measures, such as fire control and crowd management.

FSAI, started in 2002, is a non-profit organisation with 26 chapters in India and Dubai and a network of over 8,500 professionals and companies. With the goal of building a safer India, FSAI aims to make safety a part of daily life. During Mumbai’s Ganesh Utsav, this means making sure that devotion and safety go hand-in-hand, protecting both traditions and people.

Opening Doorz spoke with Milind Rane, President, Mumbai Chapter, FSAI.

Excerpts:

What are some of the most common safety violations or challenges that Ganesh Mandals face, and how does FSAI help them address these issues?

Ganesh Mandals face challenges ranging from a lack of regulatory knowledge to gaps in fire and electrical safety. Common problems include the use of non-fire-retardant materials, insufficient emergency exits, overcrowding, overloaded circuits, and a lack of medical preparedness. Security lapses, like inadequate CCTV coverage and a lack of trained personnel, are also concerns.

FSAI helps mandals by creating awareness, providing training, and sharing technical guidelines. It supports mandals in forming Emergency Response Teams (ERTs), coordinating with civic authorities, and setting up surveillance systems. By offering mentorship and best practices, FSAI enables mandals to improve their safety measures year after year.

Beyond the Awards, what resources or support does FSAI offer to Ganesh Mandals?

FSAI organises workshops, drills, and technical sessions on fire safety, electrical practices, and crowd management. It provides safety checklists, advises on pandal construction and wiring, and assists in training emergency teams. FSAI also guides mandals on CCTV surveillance, deployment of security staff, and coordination with police and fire departments. By promoting best practices, it ensures that mandals create a safe and fulfilling experience for devotees.

How has the initiative evolved over 14 years?

What began with just 10 mandals in Mumbai has now grown to over 1,000. Initially focused on basic fire safety and crowd control, the initiative now includes technology like CCTV, AI-based monitoring, digital emergency systems, and even cybersecurity awareness. The Awards have become a benchmark for innovation and preparedness, encouraging mandals to embrace responsibility alongside devotion.

How does FSAI ensure the judging criteria are fair for mandals of all sizes?

FSAI categorises mandals by size and budget, ensuring small neighbourhood mandals are not compared to large ones. The focus is on intent and implementation rather than costly technology. Simple measures like clear exits or trained volunteers are valued equally. FSAI also provides guidance and mentorship to help mandals improve progressively.

Could you share a success story of a mandal that improved because of this initiative?

Well-known mandals like Ganesh Gully, Andhericha Raja, and Chemburcha Raja have made big improvements to their safety systems by adding marked exits, fire extinguishers, trained electricians, and emergency teams. One mandal even shared before-and-after photos with FSAI’s jury to show the changes made after adopting their advice. These efforts show how much the initiative can help.

How does FSAI measure the impact beyond the number of participating mandals?

The real success is seen in how safety awareness spreads in the community. FSAI checks how many mandals make changes, how many volunteers get trained, and how well safety drills are done. The biggest impact is when everyone (children, young people, and elders) becomes aware and feels safe. Turning awareness into a habit is FSAI’s greatest achievement.

Finally, looking ahead, what are FSAI’s long-term goals for this initiative, and how does it plan to expand its reach beyond Ganesh Utsav? For instance, will FSAI take this ‘safety-first’ approach to housing societies, where many high-rises often ignore fire safety?

Yes, we are reaching out to housing societies as well, since this is urgently needed. Many high-rises get approvals on paper, but their fire safety systems are often ignored or not maintained. FSAI is working to change this. They are holding training sessions in residential buildings. They also raise awareness about government rules. Additionally, they stress the need for regular checks of safety systems. Our long-term goal is clear: to make safety a part of daily life everywhere, from pandals and schools to our own homes.

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