What Makes the Ganesh Festival in Pune So Special?
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We all have heard about the famous Ganpati festival in Pune. It is a social sentiment and ritual that Bhagwan Ganpati or Ganesh comes to every house as a guest during this period. Many Hindu families have a tradition of bringing Ganpati to their homes.
Bhagwan Ganesh is the god of new beginnings. He is also a foodie and enjoys eating sweet Modaks. Ganapati has various other names like Ganesha, (God of gan/ folks), Ganpati Bappa, (father figure, one who protects), Vighnaharta (the god who removes all the obstacles), Sukhakarta (God, who brings prosperity and happiness,) etc. He is the god of intelligence.
The duration of this honored stay of beloved Ganpati Bappa varies from half a day, 1.5 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days to 10-11 days from Ganesh Chaturthi till Anant Chaturdashi as per individual family traditions. This is called Parthiv Ganesh Pooja wrat. People decorate the place where the Ganapati idol made from soil is installed. On the 10th day, people bid farewell to the Bhagwan, and the Ganesh idol is immersed in water, with a promise to meet next year.
In 1892, Bhausaheb Rangari, a versatile figure of those days, started installing community Ganapati and arranged Ganesh Utsav / Ganesh festival to gather people against the British government. In 1894, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started sarvajanik Ganeshotsav at a larger scale, and the tradition started across Maharashtra. Ganeshotsav Decoration or commonly called Dekhave, were used for creating awareness about social causes and creating movement against the British government during those days. Same tradition still goes on, though subjects are more contemporary.
Bhau Rangari of Pune
In Pune, most of the traditional Ganapati exhibits or Dekhave are seen in core city area. 5 main Ganapatis are called Manache Ganapati, that is the most honourable ones, and given preference above all, for arrival (Aagman) and immersion(Visarjan) processions. Unless these 5 Ganpati arrive or their immersion happens, no any other sarvajanik (community) Ganapati mandal can bring their Ganapati for immersion.
The top 5 honored, Manache Ganpati with preference in the order are as below.
1. Kasba Ganapati -This is the first manacha Ganpati. He is the Gramdaivat (City Deity) of Pune, 3.5 ft, traditional statue of shadu soil- located at Kasba Peth. This Ganpati always comes in palanquin/ palkhi for procession.
2. Tambdi Jogeshwari (Gramdevi) - at Tambdi Jogeshwari chouk between Lakshmi road and Bajirao Road near Appa Balwant Chauk (ABC) Bajirao road)
3. Guruji Talim Ganapati (2-3 Min walk from Dagadu shet), Tulshibag, Budhwar Peth
4. Tulashibag Ganapati (Tulshibag - 2 min walk from Tambdi Jogeshwari)Budhwar Peth
5. Kesariwada Ganapati (Next to Lokmanya Tilak's wada in Narayan Peth, N.C. Kelkar road)
Shrimant Dagadushet Halwai Ganapati - Budhwar Peth ( This year's Dekhava - Replica of Ayodhya Ram Mandir)
Shrimant Bhau Rangari Ganapati (first Sarvajanik Ganapati) is located next to Dagadu Shet Ganapati.
Mandai Ganapati (Sharada Ganesh murti)- This Ganapati is always with Sharada and many times sitting on swing/jhula/jhopala)
Hutatma Babu Genu Ganpati Mandir (Navsacha Ganpati), Tulshibag, Budhwar Peth 2-3 min from Dagadu Shet Ganapati.
There are many other Ganpati mandals almost in every chauk, like Mati Ganpati, Modi Ganapati, Jilbya Maruti Ganpati, Hatti Ganapti, Garud Ganapati, etc and they decorate the Ganpati podium with various sets. There are various types of Ganapati darshan people opt for.
1. Many people cover Manache Gabapati + Dagadu shet Ganapati
2. Few mandals like Dagadu shet Halwai Mandal, opt for huge miniature replicas of famous temples and other structures.
3. Latest happenings depicted in Dekhave of few mandals. (This year 30% Ganapati Dekhave/decorations have Chandra yaan and 20% have Ram Mandir) (One more good Rammandir is created near Geetai mall Kothrud, Paud road)
4. Some mandals go for moving Dekhave - these create storylines and have mechanised dekhave. There are many pandals, including 3-4 famous pandals on Lakshmi road also create such dekhave.
5. Live Dekhave - Actual people enacting 1-3 min episode/story/event (In Hinjawadi too, 1-2 ganapati mandals on road to Hinjawadi phase 2, do set up live or moving dekhave every year).
6. Some mandals go for only fancy lighting magic on the rhythm of music - 70% small /medium Ganapati mandals select this option.
7. Decorative Ganapati murtis/ Idols made from innovative material - like coconuts or sugar canes or utensils, jaggery, betel nut, waste material, clothes etc. Most of the Manache Ganapati prefer lezhim and dhol in their procession.
So, if you want to visit Ganapati but prefer no rush, then try visiting at 5 am and cover Manache Ganapati too without much rush. If you want to watch processions and have a day at hand, then pack your lunch on Anantchaturdashi, go adventurous, and grab a seat on Lakshmi Road in any building (many offices are there with a balcony) or at the side. If you have friends staying in the area, then nothing like that. Try the 1st or 2nd floor and then watch all the mesmerizing processions and performances, and enjoy photography, from 10 am to 7 pm. If you want to watch Lighting Beauty then visit Pandals from the 6th day onwards post dinner. (Most of the dekhave complete their work in sprints by the 5th-6th day, it is mostly done in an Agile way 😃😃) This is a Ganapati festival for everyone with different priorities, moods, and time. Enjoy the festival. -Suwarna Uplap
Bhagwan Ganesh is the god of new beginnings. He is also a foodie and enjoys eating sweet Modaks. Ganapati has various other names like Ganesha, (God of gan/ folks), Ganpati Bappa, (father figure, one who protects), Vighnaharta (the god who removes all the obstacles), Sukhakarta (God, who brings prosperity and happiness,) etc. He is the god of intelligence.
The duration of this honored stay of beloved Ganpati Bappa varies from half a day, 1.5 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days to 10-11 days from Ganesh Chaturthi till Anant Chaturdashi as per individual family traditions. This is called Parthiv Ganesh Pooja wrat. People decorate the place where the Ganapati idol made from soil is installed. On the 10th day, people bid farewell to the Bhagwan, and the Ganesh idol is immersed in water, with a promise to meet next year.
In 1892, Bhausaheb Rangari, a versatile figure of those days, started installing community Ganapati and arranged Ganesh Utsav / Ganesh festival to gather people against the British government. In 1894, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started sarvajanik Ganeshotsav at a larger scale, and the tradition started across Maharashtra. Ganeshotsav Decoration or commonly called Dekhave, were used for creating awareness about social causes and creating movement against the British government during those days. Same tradition still goes on, though subjects are more contemporary.
Bhau Rangari of Pune
In Pune, most of the traditional Ganapati exhibits or Dekhave are seen in core city area. 5 main Ganapatis are called Manache Ganapati, that is the most honourable ones, and given preference above all, for arrival (Aagman) and immersion(Visarjan) processions. Unless these 5 Ganpati arrive or their immersion happens, no any other sarvajanik (community) Ganapati mandal can bring their Ganapati for immersion.
The top 5 honored, Manache Ganpati with preference in the order are as below.
1. Kasba Ganapati -This is the first manacha Ganpati. He is the Gramdaivat (City Deity) of Pune, 3.5 ft, traditional statue of shadu soil- located at Kasba Peth. This Ganpati always comes in palanquin/ palkhi for procession.
2. Tambdi Jogeshwari (Gramdevi) - at Tambdi Jogeshwari chouk between Lakshmi road and Bajirao Road near Appa Balwant Chauk (ABC) Bajirao road)
3. Guruji Talim Ganapati (2-3 Min walk from Dagadu shet), Tulshibag, Budhwar Peth
4. Tulashibag Ganapati (Tulshibag - 2 min walk from Tambdi Jogeshwari)Budhwar Peth
5. Kesariwada Ganapati (Next to Lokmanya Tilak's wada in Narayan Peth, N.C. Kelkar road)
Another Favorite and famous Ganapati are
Shrimant Dagadushet Halwai Ganapati - Budhwar Peth ( This year's Dekhava - Replica of Ayodhya Ram Mandir)
Shrimant Bhau Rangari Ganapati (first Sarvajanik Ganapati) is located next to Dagadu Shet Ganapati.
Mandai Ganapati (Sharada Ganesh murti)- This Ganapati is always with Sharada and many times sitting on swing/jhula/jhopala)
Hutatma Babu Genu Ganpati Mandir (Navsacha Ganpati), Tulshibag, Budhwar Peth 2-3 min from Dagadu Shet Ganapati.
There are many other Ganpati mandals almost in every chauk, like Mati Ganpati, Modi Ganapati, Jilbya Maruti Ganpati, Hatti Ganapti, Garud Ganapati, etc and they decorate the Ganpati podium with various sets. There are various types of Ganapati darshan people opt for.
1. Many people cover Manache Gabapati + Dagadu shet Ganapati
2. Few mandals like Dagadu shet Halwai Mandal, opt for huge miniature replicas of famous temples and other structures.
3. Latest happenings depicted in Dekhave of few mandals. (This year 30% Ganapati Dekhave/decorations have Chandra yaan and 20% have Ram Mandir) (One more good Rammandir is created near Geetai mall Kothrud, Paud road)
4. Some mandals go for moving Dekhave - these create storylines and have mechanised dekhave. There are many pandals, including 3-4 famous pandals on Lakshmi road also create such dekhave.
5. Live Dekhave - Actual people enacting 1-3 min episode/story/event (In Hinjawadi too, 1-2 ganapati mandals on road to Hinjawadi phase 2, do set up live or moving dekhave every year).
6. Some mandals go for only fancy lighting magic on the rhythm of music - 70% small /medium Ganapati mandals select this option.
7. Decorative Ganapati murtis/ Idols made from innovative material - like coconuts or sugar canes or utensils, jaggery, betel nut, waste material, clothes etc. Most of the Manache Ganapati prefer lezhim and dhol in their procession.
So, if you want to visit Ganapati but prefer no rush, then try visiting at 5 am and cover Manache Ganapati too without much rush. If you want to watch processions and have a day at hand, then pack your lunch on Anantchaturdashi, go adventurous, and grab a seat on Lakshmi Road in any building (many offices are there with a balcony) or at the side. If you have friends staying in the area, then nothing like that. Try the 1st or 2nd floor and then watch all the mesmerizing processions and performances, and enjoy photography, from 10 am to 7 pm. If you want to watch Lighting Beauty then visit Pandals from the 6th day onwards post dinner. (Most of the dekhave complete their work in sprints by the 5th-6th day, it is mostly done in an Agile way 😃😃) This is a Ganapati festival for everyone with different priorities, moods, and time. Enjoy the festival. -Suwarna Uplap