According to Oriental Insurance, the company has insured around 100 Ganpati pandals this year, compared to around 20-30 in the last year. The Business Standard reported that public sector insurers are playing a leading role in the festival insurance segment, with Oriental Insurance acting as the official insurer for Maharashtra’s Dahi Handi festival.
The devastating floods in Nepal and monsoon rain forecasts by meteorological agencies have further driven up numbers and adoption of insurance covers. Mumbai’s richest Ganpati mandal, GSB Seva Mandal, records a whopping ₹703.27 Crore in insurance cover. Lalbaugcha Raja, another mandal that celebrates for a full 10 days, has secured insurance worth ₹32.76 Crore. Larger pandals have also been sponsoring insurance covers for small pandals.
The typical cover is ₹7 Lakh for a premium of about ₹3000. Comprehensive coverage includes personal accident cover for pandal workers, natural disasters such as floods and calamities and artificial disasters such as fire, burglary, riots and loss of collection, apart from the jewellery and the Ganesh idol. Several pandals are also opting for separate jewellery covers for big mandals with higher risks.
Insurance cover for Dahi Handi, a competitive event during Krishna Janmashtami, has gone up. Nearly 168,535 Govindas have been insured this year with a typical cover of ₹10 Lakh for a basic premium of ₹75. Individual mandals have also signed up for separate insurance policies, bringing the total to 2,002 mandals, up from 1,968 in 2025. Reportedly, the Sports Development Fund has allocated ₹1.12 crore for personal accident and hospitalisation cover for the participating Govindas.
Also Read: How Insurance Works in India
Event/Festival Insurance Cover in India
Hundreds of festivals are celebrated in India throughout the year. Event or festival insurance, as it is called, involves protecting organisers against cancellation or liability risks arising from unforeseen circumstances. Typical policies are known to cover,
- Venue damage
- Loss of equipment/items
- Public liability
- Expenses arising from postponement
- Vendor-related issues
- Theft or burglary of festival property
- Personal accidents and injuries during the event
Apart from Ganpati pandals and Dahi Handi organisers, event insurance in India is opted for by commercial Garba event organisers during Navratri, Durga Puja committees, Rath Yatra organisers, and Diwali event organisers.
- It covers legal liabilities and compensation related to third-party bodily damage, property damage, and accidents
- Secures repair or replacement costs for festival items such as sound systems, lighting, decorations, and temporary structures
- Protects the reputation of festival organisers through adequate compensation and proper crisis management
- Ensures that organisers and festival committees can plan and execute installations without worrying about losses and liabilities
Few damages or situations are excluded from festival insurance policies, since most are acquired to cover the full scope of expenses or costs arising from extraordinary events. Exclusions, as inclusions, differ based on the insurer, but a few typical ones are,
- Intentional damage to pandals, idols, decorations, etc.
- Poor financial planning or deliberate misconduct
- Liabilities arising from lack of permits or authorisations
- War-related damage
- Gradual wear and tear of items
- Foreseeable or established pre-existing risks
Organising parties and puja committees generally consider cancellation clauses, insurer terms and conditions, and add-on covers before signing up due to these reasons. A risk assessment prior to executing pandal plans can prove helpful. Organisers are also required to maintain proper permits, vendor documentation, event budgets, and equipment invoices to get a fair deal when securing coverage.
As festivals in India become larger and more commercially significant, insurance is no longer viewed as an optional expense. From Ganpati pandals in Maharashtra to Durga Puja installations in West Bengal, stronger financial protection is indispensable today. Independent insurance experts at MyRupia offer guidance and detailed deep dives into the breadth and depth of insurance in India. Learn to read policy documents with scrutiny through unbiased guides that help you plan your festival finances better.
Disclaimer: This MyRupia article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available government, regulatory and industry sources. It should not be treated as investment, financial, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Information, examples, market data, and expert views mentioned in the article may change over time and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, invest in, or surrender any financial product. Readers should evaluate their individual circumstances and consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.