Maharashtra govt beat Modi to NYC and spent Rs 5 cr on Diwali event at Times Square!

Roughly a week before Narendra Modi’s much-hyped Madison Square event, the Maharashtra government had organised an event in New York to boost tourism. Held on 20 September, the day-long event at New York’s Times Square was organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). A series of events were organised, and stalls set up to woo tourists to Maharashtra, according to reports. Travelbizmonitor.com reports, “The event titled, ‘Maharashtra Tourism – Diwali at Times Square’, recreated a Diwali-like atmosphere and showcased the heritage and culture of Maharashtra.” A report on IANS notes that “Maharashtrian food, dances, diya-rangoli paintings, arts and crafts, fashion shows, photo booths with ethnic outfits, dahi handi-mallkhamb and other attractions was showcased” in the event. However, it has been now revealed that the day-long event cost the Maharashtra government a whopping Rs 5 crore. [caption id=“attachment_1759221” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Modi’s live painting made at the Madison Square event. Reuters.[/caption] The Indian Express reports, “Just eight days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Madison Square Garden mega show, the Maharashtra government, too, tried to have its own big bash in New York, spending almost Rs 5 crore on a pre-Diwali event at Times Square.” However, tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the ministry had only spent Rs 2.1 crore and the rest of the expenses were paid for by sponsors and event organisers. The pre-Diwali event, which was first organised last year to boost tourism in Maharashtra, is likely to become an annual feature. A report in Mint published in July 2013, when the first chapter of this event was flagged off, suggested that the Diwali bash was a part of a line-up of promotional activities that the Maharashtra tourism ministry is likely to take up. The cost of the entire endeavour has been pegged at Rs 100 crore. “The state government will spend around Rs.1.4 crore on the event as part of a Rs.100 crore campaign by it to promote Maharashtra as a tourism destination, said Maharashtra Tourism Development Corp. official (MTDC), who didn’t want to be identified,” states the Min t report. Satish Soni, joint managing director of MTDC, had told The Times of India in September: “The event had been scheduled in September to ensure that foreign tourists are made aware Maharashtra’s splendour, and accordingly can plan their visit in October which would ensure that they soak in the festivities of Diwali.” However, the Maharashtra government might already have an argument ready to defend the crores spent in promotion tourism for a day in New York. According to the tourism statistics compiled by the government of India, Maharashtra witnessed the highest influx of foreign tourists in the year 2013, closely followed by Tamil Nadu. The number of tourists arriving in Maharashtra comprises 20.8 percent of all tourist arrivals in India. It figures way above domestic tourist hot spots like Delhi (11.5 percent), Rajasthan (7.2 percent) and Gujarat (doesn’t figure in top ten list). But Narendra Modi might still have the last laugh in the battle of desi shows in New York. Though 3.5 lakh people reportedly turned up at the Maharashtra government’s Diwali fest, while Modi’s Madison Square event could only accommodate 18,000, the latter cost organisers just Rs 15 lakhs. Now compare that to the five crore rupees that the Maharashtra government spent!