Ganesh Festival , Dagdusheth Ganpati

Lord Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles (Vigneshwara) and more generally as Lord of Beginnings, patron of arts and sciences and the God of intellect and wisdom.He is honored at the start of rituals and ceremonies. Pune has its own tradition of Public Ganesh Festival dating way back in 1894.

More details about Ganesh Festival

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Father of Indian Unrest, mobilised people through public Ganesh Utsav which was until then confined to the homes of the people and palaces of Maharajas. Hindus came together for the festival which became a source of political awakening against the British regime. A platform for political awakening and uprising among people to gain freedom from British imperialism. Ganesh Festival thus played a very important role in our Freedom Struggle. Castes and creeds were forgotten as people organised the festivals with great enthusiasm. Mandals or organisations of people in every locality came into being to organise the annual event with fanfare. After Independence in 1947, these Mandals continued to celebrate the festival with vigour and devotion. Political overtones of pre-Independence era were replaced by activities for social good. Pune Mandals, some of them established way back in the last decade of the 19th century, continued to remain in the forefront in their social outlook. In Maharashtra there are eight famous Ganesh temples, which are places of pilgrimage and are visited by countless number of people every year with the faith that these visits wipe away all the sins and lead man to the ultimate truth, the Moksha. Lord Ganesh's images and pictures not only are seen presiding over the lintels of the doorways of many Hindu homes as heartiness of good luck out in hospitals private Nursing homes and clinics. Ganesha is looked upon as the god of good harvest and hence after his immersion clay is brought from the waterside and sprinkled into the farms and storerooms for luck & plenty. During the last 5000 years of history in the pre-Vedic era, the concept of Ganesh had reached all over the world and idols of Ganesh in various forms have been found in Java, Indo-China, Nepal, Combodia, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka where He is regarded as the protector and saviour of mankind from the menace of ghosts and demons.The most popular and colourful Ganesh festival is a wholesome occasion for ritual worship prayers, celebrations and hospitality. It also means cheer, goodwill and homemade sweets, spicy snacks and a variety of delicious preparations!One of the sweet dishes prepared during this festival is Modak .Modak is a ritual sweet dish, specially prepared on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, which lasts for 10 days. For all these ten days, every day a special sweet dish is prepared in offering to the god and then distributed as ‘prasad’ to the members of the family and friends. Ganesh Chaturthi is the first day on which Modaks are prepared. All the same, they can be prepared any day as sweet dish for the family.

Dagdu Shet Ganpati

Dagdu Shet Ganpati, is one of the oldest Ganesh Mandals in Pune , around 108 years. It attracts devotees from all over the World.

The trust pledges to celebrate Ganeshotsav based on the principles set out by

Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak.

Guidelines set out by Civic body for Ganesh Mandals:

1. To install (pratisthapana) the Ganpati image at the same time i.e. same muhurta all through Maharashtra on the day of Ganesh chaturthi.
2. To conduct aarti of all 25000 Ganeshotsav mandals simultaneously at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
3. To refrain from playing film music, western music, and other such music on these occasions.
4. To play devotional songs like bhajan, kirtan and other melodious music.
5. To control levels of noise during celebration of festivals.
6. Avoid consumption of alcoholic drinks and gambling at least during this period.
7. To give a nationalist bend to the celebration of this festival.
8. To sustain the religious hue of the festival by following and respecting the prescribed rituals.
9. To organize cultural programmes during these days.
10. To use ganeshotsav as a means for social awareness.
11. To aid those who are pushed to the fringes of society, the poor, physically challenged, widowed and abandoned women.
12. To restore and renovate the rich historical heritage especially old forts and temples of Maharashtra.
13. To maintain the purity of the temple one is responsible for.
14. Display things of social relevance during this festival.
15. To acknowledge that this is a Hindu festival.
16. Be proud to claim that one is a Hindu.
17. Not to hurt anyone's feelings during this festival.

For more information and pictures about the festival please mail.