Pune: Dagdusheth Ganpati Offered 5,000 Tender Coconuts During ‘Shahale Mahotsav’
Pune: Dagdusheth Ganpati Offered 5,000 Tender Coconuts During ‘Shahale Mahotsav’
Pune, May 1, 2026: Devotees at the iconic Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple offered a grand ‘mahanaivedya’ of 5,000 tender coconuts as part of the annual ‘Shahale Mahotsav’, seeking relief from heat, drought, and water scarcity, as well as prosperity for farmers.
The festival was organised by the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust along with Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal on the auspicious occasion of Vaishakh Purnima. The day marks the birth of the ‘Pushtipati Vinayak’ avatar of Lord Ganesha, believed to have appeared to defeat the demon Durmati, according to Hindu scriptures.
Special rituals, including Ganesh Janma puja and abhishek, were performed at sunrise. Renowned vocalist Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar presented devotional music, while a Ganesh Yagya was also conducted at the temple.
The temple premises, including the sanctum and assembly hall, were beautifully decorated with coconuts and greenery to mark the occasion. References to the Pushtipati Vinayak avatar are found in ancient texts such as the Ganesh Purana and Mudgal Purana.
The tradition of offering coconuts on this day is rooted in prayers for protection from extreme summer conditions and for overcoming challenges like drought and water shortages. The trust also announced that the coconuts will be distributed as prasad to patients at Sassoon General Hospital on the following day.
