Artisans and workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh work round-the-clock on a replica of Gujarat’s Somnath temple set up for a Ganapati mandal in Mahatma Phule Mandai
Pune: Prominent Ganapati mandals in the city are combining traditional rituals with cultural programmes, women-focused initiatives, social campaigns and community activities for Ganeshotsav, with several plans extending beyond this year’s 12-day festival. “We have been organising cultural programmes for children for the last 42 years. This year, more than 50 groups have participated in our programme, with the prize distribution planned during Ganeshotsav,” said Nilesh Vakil of the Kasba Ganapati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. Vakil said the mandal held a blood donation camp on Sept 6 to mark the start of the festivities, collecting 274 bottles of blood. A Ganga aarti by a group from Varanasi and a kavi sammelan, being revived after 20 years, will also be held. The mandal will also honour five people who have contributed to the city’s legacy on Sept 15.
“We want to promote the arts as well,” Vakil said. Through all days, cultural programmes are conducted as planned, along with social activities,” said Praveen Pardeshi, president of Guruji Talim Mandal. At Kasba Ganapati, the first of the five revered (Manacha) Ganapati, the festival will feature a mix of devotional, cultural and social programmes. The mandal has also planned a series of cultural programmes, including a kirtan at 10pm on the first day, followed by a range of events on the remaining days of the festival. Kasba Ganapati’s decoration is fully eco-friendly, using bamboo, leaves and natural flowers, with a yellow-and-green theme. Its programme will include an AI dindi organising a kirtan, an Art of Living bhajan programme, a women-only event, a performance by an African djembe group, a chenda melam performance by a group from Kerala and a Kuchipudi performance by a dancer from Bengaluru. At Guruji Talim, the third of the five revered Ganapati, the festival will follow its established format. “Every year, the plan remains the same.
For Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati’s Ganeshotsav this year, a 100-ft replica of Vrindavan’s Prem Mandir is the centrepiece, with Krishna leela-inspired artwork forming part of the grand display. The campaign will include awareness boards at 100 Ganapati mandals, with the theme also reflected in the visarjan procession. The trust has also planned 24-hour medical facilities, including a live ICU, during the festival. Security measures include insurance cover of Rs 50 crore against risks including stampede and militant activity. “Every month, 1,200 to 1,500 foreigners visit the temple.
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“The anti-drug movement is being promoted on a large scale through our trust,” said Mahesh Suryawanshi, treasurer of Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Trust. “If there is any emergency, citizens can take help at the medical facility,” Suryawanshi said. They are taken around the festival so they can get an introduction to Indian culture,” said Suryawanshi.
The mandal will also use fresh marigold flowers for its decoration, creating a devotional setting for the large crowds expected during the festival. Tulshibaug Ganapati, the fourth Manacha Ganapati, is using its festival budget for a social initiative. The Tulshibaug Mandal has paid the fees of six students from NMV School, using money that would otherwise have been spent on its dhol-tasha budget. The initiative aims to combine the celebration with a message of social responsibility. At Kesariwada, the fifth revered Ganapati, the focus remains on preserving the festival’s cultural character. The trust has also planned a wider programme centred on devotion, public service and social awareness. The trust will also host visitors from outside Pune and overseas. During the festival, delegations come through MTDC and India Tourism. Download the TOI App.