31st Pune Navratra Mahotsav To Open On Sept 22 With Grand Inauguration

Pune, September 16, 2025: The Pune Navratri Mahotsav, which presents a delightful confluence of art, culture, singing, instrumental music, devotional songs, dance, and traditional music, proudly celebrates its 31st year this year. The festival will be inaugurated on Monday, 22 September at 4.30 pm at the Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, at the hands of the Hon. Revenue Minister of Maharashtra, Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, senior Gandhian thinker and former MLC Ulhas Pawar, State Minister of Urban Development Madhuri Misal, MP Medha Kulkarni, MLA Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam, BJP City President Dheeraj Ghate, former Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Additional Police Commissioner Sanjay Patil will grace the function as chief guests.

Special Attraction of the Inauguration

The special presence of film stars Bhargavi Chirmule, Teja Devkar, Sania Choudhari, Shital Ahirrao, Radha Sagar, Siya Patil, Rujuta Junnarkar, Amruta Dhome, and Vaishnavi Patil will be a highlight of the inauguration ceremony. All programmes of the festival are free for the citizens, said Aba Bagul, President of the Pune Navratra Festival, during a press conference.

On the same day, Monday, 22nd September, being the day of Ghatasthapana, a ritual installation will be conducted at Shivdarshan’s Shri Lakshmimata Temple at 6.41 am at the auspicious muhurta by Aba Bagul and Smt. Jayashri Bagul. This year, at this temple, a grand spectacle of the 72-feet tall Meenakshi Temple replica from Madurai is being created, with nearly 80 artists from the South working on this magnificent presentation.

Maharshi – Lakshmimata Lifetime Achievement Awards

At the inauguration, every year the Maharshi Award is presented to a distinguished individual for outstanding contribution. This year, the award will be conferred upon Padmashri Girish Prabhune, a social worker who has tirelessly dedicated himself to the upbringing, education, and value-building of children from nomadic and de-notified tribes.

Similarly, the Shri Lakshmimata Lifetime Achievement Award is given to personalities with consistent contributions in different fields. This year’s awardees are:

• Dr. Parag Kalkar (Pro-Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University)
• Dr. Shailendra Dewalankar (Director, Higher Education, Maharashtra)
• Dr. Megha Purav Samant (Social Worker)
• Shirish Deshpande (Co-Founder, Buldhana Cooperative Bank)
• Folk Artist Pramila Lodagekar

In addition, Dr. Mayur Kardile and Dr. Arvind Khomne will also be specially felicitated.

Grand Cultural Inauguration Programme

As every year, the inaugural cultural programme will be splendid and eye-catching. Highlights include:

• Anand Tarang – a jugalbandi of sitar, violin, flute, and tabla by Dr. Neelima Radkar and Madhavi Karandikar with group.
• Kathak performance Sharanye Rudra Chandike by dance maestro Pt. Shama Bhate and troupe.
• Jagar Shakti Pithancha – a devotional folk performance by Vinod Dhokte, Swati Dhokte, and co-artists.
• Jallosh – a dance extravaganza featuring Marathi film stars Bhargavi Chirmule, Teja Devkar, Sania Choudhari, Shital Ahirrao, Radha Sagar, Siya Patil, Rujuta Junnarkar, Amruta Dhome, and Vaishnavi Patil, choreographed by Nikita Moghe.

Cultural Programmes of the Festival

After the inauguration, a series of unique cultural programmes will be presented daily at 7.00 pm at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch until Vijayadashami:

• Tuesday, 23rd Sept – Nineties Melody, a musical journey of 1990s hits by Abhijit Saraf, Kalyani Deshpande, and Akshay Ghanekar.
• Wednesday, 24th Sept – Ishq Sufiana by Sandeep Panchwatkar, Praveen Avchar, Sandeep Ubale, and Vinal Deshmukh.
• Thursday, 25th Sept – Swar Samragniyaan, an evergreen duet concert by Radhika Atre, Rajeshwari Pawar, Kavita Sengar, and Charulata Patankar.
• Friday, 26th Sept – Musical Masters: L.P. & R.D. presented by Pallavi Patki Dhole, Sanjay Hivarale, Rafi Habib, Vinod Narwade, and Bhagyashree Dumbare.
• Saturday, 27th Sept – Asmita Maharashtrachi, featuring 50 artists simultaneously, led by Pruthviraj Nagwade, Ankita Shivatare, and Saugandh Kapse.
• Sunday, 28th Sept – Lavani Mahotsav, a 12-hour marathon folk festival from 12 noon to 12 midnight, preserving Maharashtra’s traditional art, with renowned Lavani performers Seema Pote, Bhagyashree Baramatikar, Raksha Punekar, Kavya Punekar, Reel Star Kuku, Varsha Mumbaikar, Archana Sawant, Jyoti Mumbaikar, Shalaka Punekar, and Sonali Shinde.
• Monday, 29th Sept – Total Music Dhamaka by Mukesh Dedhiya, Tejaswini Pahuja, Chandrashekhar Mahamuni, Madhuri Bhoslekar, and Akash Solanki.
• Tuesday, 30th Sept – Bemisal Rafi by Ali Hussain, Anand Mhasavade, and Kalyani Deshpande.
• Wednesday, 1st Oct – Hridayat Waje Something, a romantic songs concert by Tanvi Datye, A. Saraf, Avantika Dhumne, and RJ Bandya.
• Thursday, 2nd Oct (Vijayadashami) – Soulful Kishore Kumar, a grand finale concert by senior singer Jitendra Bhuruk, Rupali Ghogre, and group, concluding the 11-day musical celebration.

Treasurer Nandkumar Bangude, Vice President Ghanshyam Sawant, Secretary Nandkumar Kondhalkar, members Ramesh Bhandari, Amit Bagul, and Hemant Bagul were present at the press briefing.