Push To Declare Ganesh Festival As Maharashtra’s State Festival, ₹100 Crore Grant Sought For Pune
Push To Declare Ganesh Festival As Maharashtra’s State Festival, ₹100 Crore Grant Sought For Pune
The Ganesh Festival has become an integral part of Maharashtra’s social, cultural, and historical heritage. Originating in the state and enjoying widespread public support, there is a strong demand to officially recognize it as Maharashtra’s ‘State Festival’.
In 1893, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduced the concept of public Ganeshotsav to unite people across castes and religions in support of India’s freedom struggle. Over time, the festival spread from Maharashtra to the rest of the country and even overseas. Through year-long constructive social initiatives, the festival has nurtured several prominent social and political leaders.
The festival not only preserves religious and cultural traditions but also plays a key role in spreading social awareness. Volunteers work tirelessly to present artistic and scientific tableaux that carry important messages. However, frequent restrictions have hampered these efforts. To support uninterrupted celebrations in cities like Pune, the government is being urged to step in.
Considering the limited police manpower during the festival, additional deployment is necessary. As tourists from across India and abroad visit during this time, there is also an urgent need for better roads, pothole-free streets, well-maintained footpaths, adequate street lighting, accessible public toilets (especially for women), and robust disaster management arrangements through government agencies.
In the Kasba Assembly constituency, 56 chronic garbage spots have been cleared through public participation. On July 22, beautification of 22 of these spots is planned to coincide with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ birthday. Similar to how Pune city was decorated during the G20 Summit, the same level of preparation is expected for Ganeshotsav.
During the Pandharpur Wari, even opposition MLAs praised the Chief Minister and the state’s management efforts. A similar approach for Ganeshotsav in Pune is seen as essential. Hence, it is proposed that the state government allocate at least ₹100 crore as an additional grant for Pune’s Ganesh Festival arrangements.
Ganeshotsav holds immense significance for promoting national unity and social harmony, as people from all castes, communities, and religions actively participate. It contributes to social integration and helps realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
Today, Ganeshotsav has attained international recognition, being celebrated in over 175 countries. The period also sees a surge of tourists visiting Maharashtra from across the world. Drawing inspiration from the Prime Minister’s roadmap to develop religious sites as tourist hubs, it is proposed to position Pune’s Ganesh Festival as a key religious tourism attraction.
Against this backdrop, MLA Hemant Jyoti Narayan Rasane has requested the Maharashtra Government to officially declare Ganeshotsav as the ‘State Festival of Maharashtra’ and provide the necessary funds for its successful celebration.
