On the occasion of Rishi Panchami, 35,000 women recite Atharvashirsha before Dagdusheth Ganapati. Organised by Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust; women dressed in traditional attire gather before dawn for the collective recital
On the occasion of Rishi Panchami, 35,000 women recite Atharvashirsha before Dagdusheth Ganapati. Organised by Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust; women dressed in traditional attire gather before dawn for the collective recital On the occasion of Rishi Panchami, 35,000 women recite Atharvashirsha before Dagdusheth Ganapati. From 2021 to 2023, Deepa Taware served as the mandal’s vice-president, and two of its current trustees are women. By 2015, of the 80 members, 26 seats were reserved for women, and of 11 trustees, two seats were reserved for them. Vakil said Ganeshotsav began in 1893 through Lokmanya Tilak’s vision to unite the people. “Old photographs of our mandal show women volunteers, and their participation goes back to 1893 at an informal and intellectual level. In 2002, we began reserving one of the 10 days of Ganeshotsav for women who perform the aarti and manage all the activities, as a tribute to their power and contribution,” he added. Established in 1887, Guruji Talim Ganapati Mandal is the city’s third-oldest mandal, founded on Hindu-Muslim unity. “Over 35,000 women took part in Atharvashirsha Pathan this year too. We established Suvarnayug Sports Club in 1992, which gave India its first woman kabaddi team captain, Sumati Pujari. Yet none of its 11 trustees is a woman.
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Nilesh Vakil, trustee and event head of Kasba Ganapati mandal, the most prestigious in the city, said, “It’s no exaggeration. “Our women trustees manage their homes and jobs and work harder than us,” Vakil added. Pallavi Neurgaonkar, the mandal’s internal auditor and trustee for nine years, said women contribute as much as men, but home responsibilities often keep them from committing fully. Yet, its top positions remain a man’s domain “largely due to the liabilities that come with trustee positions”. Mandal festival head Hardeek Pardeshi said women have been involved with the mandal for years. We take up guardianship of students from poor families; one of them is with the police force in Mumbai,” treasurer Mahesh Suryavanshi said.
Organised by Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust; women dressed in traditional attire gather before dawn for the collective recital Pune: Thousands gathered before dawn at Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati idol’s pandal off Laxmi Road to chant Atharvashirsha in an exclusive, all-woman event. Hundreds more participate in dhol-taasha processions each year. And many others are the invisible hands behind the rangoli, snacks, and prasad, streamlining visitors and keeping the pandal clean. And yet, none of the big mandals, from the prestigious Manache Ganapati committees to the sprawling network of neighbourhood sarvajanik mandals, has a woman at the helm. The adhyaksh (chairperson), the one who signs off on permit applications, negotiates with sponsors, and deals with the police and civic bodies, is, without exception, a man. Hardly any mandal has women in that position. At our mandal too, the shift is recent. “Hence, they’re not yet in leadership positions. That change will happen gradually,” she added. women managed households, preparing prasad and snacks, and supporting the gatherings, aartis, and processions While men led the movement on the streets. “During the lockdown, they stayed behind the scenes, preparing the pooja thali and naivedya each morning and evening. Post-lockdown, they are at the forefront, helping organise the morning Atharvashirsha recitation, bhajans, and year-round cultural events tied to social work. Now, the mandal has young women driving marketing-related work—event planning, promotion, photo selection, and rangoli throughout Ganeshotsav, Pardeshi added. Shrimant Dagduseth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust draws thousands of women volunteers and participants and works year-round to uplift girls and women. The current vice-captain, Deepika Joseph, is also from here. Download the TOI App.
