Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera visited Pune’s historic Ganpati Mandal. (File pic)
Lt Gen Lakhera offered prayers and performed aarti at the historic mandal, which pioneered the public community celebration of Ganesh festival in India in 1892.
Addressing devotees after the maha aarti, he said the mandal’s history and cultural legacy held an important message for the younger generation. Stay connected to your roots,” he said. Highlighting the association of the public Ganesh festival with India’s freedom movement, Lakhera said the tradition had begun at a time when the country was under British rule. The biggest inspiration from this is that the nation is supreme,” he said. The Army of the country belongs to the people of the country,” he said.
“Do not forget your culture. Your greatest strength is your culture. Your history will determine your future. “When this idol was made, we were slaves of the British. This was the first Ganpati; Ganpati (public celebration) began from here. “You come, try, work hard, and join the Army.
PUNE: Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, who visited Pune’s Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal during the ongoing Ganpati festival on Sunday, urged youngsters to stay connected to their cultural roots and consider joining the armed forces.