Among the other famous Hindu festivals, this is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in India. Dedicated to Lord Shree Ganesh, this Utsav is celebrated in the months of August- September. Puja-Aarti, modak offering, Dance, everything all happens as a token of devotion here on this upcoming occasion.
Now when it is about Ganesha festival, this is not possible we don’t talk about its celebration in Pune. Which is Maharashtra’s cultural capital. The 10 day festival culminates in a carnival like procession along the busy thoroughfares of the city. With every pandal leading the idol on a float to finally immerse it in the local rivers. This is one the most important yearly festivals in the city. Pune has its own traditions to celebrate this festival. This festival was made public with an aim of bringing people together and celebrations that are carried out today are the proof of same. You will see that every neighborhood has a Ganpati Mandal that has been crafted by skilled artisans. So here i am writing this article on 9 special things about the celebration of Ganesh Utsav in Pune.
Ganpati Darshan
Visit the Ganpati Pandals which are always present in Pune on some mornings and evenings especially after inquiring the aarti time, which are usually fixed. You’ll appreciate the beauty and efforts people to make these beautiful. Some of these will have lighting effects. While some have beautiful floral decorations. Some will even present various mythological as well as current affairs enacted into plays.
Some Ganpatis are made up of Eco friendly and a variety of materials. Everyday people try and make different delicious Prasad. The environment here gives you a delightful and meditative state of mind. One of the best things that you can enjoy is the dhol tashas that are played during the festival here. In India, Ganesh chaurthi is celebrated in the grandest form of Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Outside India, it is widely celebrated in Nepal and by Hindus in UK, us and Mauritius etc.
9 special things about the celebration of Ganesh Utsav in Pune
- Concerns about pollution in Pune rivers has led to the growing use of Eco-friendly and biodegrade materials in manufacture of idols or lord Ganesha. Over some places the processions are also banned to help reduce air and noise pollution. During this time, the Maharashtra tourism development corporation organizes the month long Pune festival which hosts classical dance and music recitals, film and drama festival, automobile rallies and some traditional sports.
- Marking the birth of lord of wisdom is the festival of Ganesh Utsav. The excitements begins months in advance as families gear up to welcome their favorite lord with decorations and an aaray of sweets. In an emotional moment, devotees bid farewell to lord Ganesha and request him to return again the next year.
- Lord Ganesha, who is at times represented with only one tusk is known as ekdunt. According to Hindu Mythology, Ganesha once brook his tooth and hurled it at the moon for laughing at his belly. He even cursed the moon, although the curse was undone, the myth about looking at the moon is a bad omen still remains.
- Apart from Mumbai and Pune, one place which flourished and mastered the art of making Ganesha idols is Maharashtra’s pen district. Close to 500 workshops and 800 artisans make over 7 Lakh models every year, which also get exported to us and UK.
- Lord Ganesha has around 108 names, including vighna harta and buddhi pradaayaka. Apart from his birth, Ganesh utsav is also the day when lord shiva declared Ganesha to be above all Hindu gods. The city has five maanache ganpati, they are the kasba ganpati, tambdi jogeshwara Ganpati, tulsibaugh ganpati and kesariwada ganpati. This festival was started in 1894 by lokmanya tilak. The maanacha pahila idol is immersed first followed by the rest.
- According to hindu calendar it is celebrated on the fourth day of bright half of bhadrapad. Idols are usually made of clay or metal in all sizes. People purchase these deities or lord ganesha and put them in their homes and worship them from one to ten days. The priest is then called in to invoke life into the statue by chanting mantras and performing rituals. This festival is also celebrated with various cultural activities, theater performances, community activities like free medical check up camps, charity for the poor etc. The Ganesha Utsav has become an important economic event. Many industries businesses and artists survive on this mega event as it provides them an excellent stage to present their art to the community.
- There has been a rise of 10-15 % in no of registered and unregistered ganesh mandals in four zones of the city. Mainly due to rising political aspirations at the local level. It is also realized that the people who setup a Ganesha mandal also have some criminal background. There have been incidents where people have been harassed for vargani. Earlier their used to be just one or two Mandals in an area. Now there is one for each residential society, for every alley, for every street and one set up by local politicians.
- Though many believe Ganesha was a bairagi/bachelor or single god. There are numerous instances where Ganesha is represented with 2 wives- ridhi and sidhi. Both of them were created by lord brahma to placate ganesha. Who was distraught at not having even a single wife when several other gods and deities had more than one.
- In 2014, there were 10000 Ganesha idols in Pandals of Mumbai alone. According to statistics, The number of ganesha idols brought home increases significantly every year. Though the ritual of immersion continues, Plaster of paris which is used for idol making contains mercury and cadmium is hugely contributed to water pollution.
So these are some things i would recommend to you about the Ganesh festival in Pune. There are many more things you can add to this list. Hope you find this article worth reading that excite you to go to Pune.
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