A Ganeshotsav celebration at one of the orphanages in Pune
Aadhar Anathalaya has been functioning in Pune since 2015 and provides shelter to orphaned children and those with a single parent. Every Ganeshotsav, nearly 200 boys and girls at the Janaseva Foundation participate in activities ranging from making clay diyas and rangolis to preparing puranpoli, organising skits and playing different games. The Janaseva Foundation, established in 1988, focuses on healthcare, elderly care, rehabilitation of destitute people, education for street children and vocational training.
Because we don’t see many women participating in Ganapati rituals, “I particularly like the dhol tasha activity. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
A Ganeshotsav celebration at one of the orphanages in Pune A Ganeshotsav celebration at one of the orphanages in Pune A Ganeshotsav celebration at one of the orphanages in Pune A Ganeshotsav celebration at one of the orphanages in Pune “I feel extremely happy during Ganeshotsav,” said Namrata, a Std IX student, echoing the sentiment of her peers. I love how everyone comes together and recites shlok,” Namrata said. “Preparing the shadu mati idols and modak for Bappa is something the children are really proud of,” said Budhkar. Siddharth Shinde, chairperson of the organisation, said the Ganapati celebrations are completely led by the children. The most beautiful thing about the children engaging in these activities is that they celebrate the festival selflessly and with complete devotion,” Shinde said. In this activity, however, women are at the forefront, which fills my heart with pride,” she said. Sharayu Ghodkhande, a counsellor with Janaseva, said the children are encouraged to organise the celebrations themselves to give them a sense of agency. This year, the special thing about our festivities is that the children are producing a play on their own with guidance from our volunteers, while the staff has decided to take a back seat,” she said. Ghodkhande said the foundation’s staff celebrates festivals with the children at the hostel to give them a sense of home and belonging. Co-founder of the Janaseva Foundation, celebrating Ganeshotsav with children in an orphanage goes beyond marking a festival; it is about creating a sense of belonging, happiness and togetherness, according to Meena Shah. For these children, such moments can bring joy and strengthen their sense of family and community,” Shah said. Having stayed at the orphanage since my childhood, the togetherness of people is something I look forward to,” he said. Mahesh Yadav, founder of Sparsh Balgram, said, “Ganesh is the God of education.
The children take charge of every aspect of the celebrations — from collectively reciting the Atharvashirsha to performing the aarti. “Every year, we do the pranpratisthapan with servitude and perform Bappa’s aarti. My favourite part is decorating the place and participating in the Atharvashirsha recital. Besides participating in the rituals, the children take part in activities such as dance and preparing ukdiche modak for Ganapati. These activities give them a sense of pride and ownership during the festival, with guidance from their warden, Asavari Budhkar. “Ganeshotsav is a festival where children truly connect with God. Right from planning to execution, children are involved at every step of the process. For Rutuja, a Std VIII student at the Janaseva Foundation, the dhol tasha pathak performance during Ganapati celebrations is a highlight of the festival. “Another favourite activity for me during the Ganapati festival is interacting with volunteers from different colleges who bring chocolates for us. We feel nice when they engage us in activities and give us a chance to experiment with new things,” Rutuja added. “We let children organise Ganapati celebrations themselves to give them a sense of agency. During Ganapati celebrations in particular, the children are involved in games and activities designed to strengthen their critical-thinking skills. “Children should feel that they are equally a part of every festival and celebration. Simple activities like decorating the Ganesh idol, singing, dancing and sharing prasad can create beautiful and meaningful memories for them. The most important thing is to celebrate with love, inclusion and respect. For Ganesh, an MBA student who has been staying at Sparsh Balgram since childhood, Ganapati has become synonymous with hope and home. “We organise competitions like painting and essay writing for children every year. I was very young when my parents passed away, and my relatives left me here. At Sparsh Balgram, preparations for the festival begin well in advance, with the children planning the celebrations, dividing chores and working together to execute them. So, we engage children in various activities to develop a scientific temperament. Download the TOI App.
Pune: Every year, weeks before Ganeshotsav, 36 young girls at Aadhar Anathalaya in Pune come together to shape an idol using shadu clay and welcome Bappa into their orphanage. For them, Ganapati celebrations are not merely about festivities but about belonging, togetherness and lived devotion.