Punit Balan Group initiative: 35 mandals unite to celebrate Dahi-Handi together in Pune

A laudable step by mandals to check traffic jams and solve other issues in the city; common celebrations at historic Lal Mahal Chowk

Pune: City-based 35 leading Ganesh mandals have joined hands under an initiative of Punit Balan Group (PBG) to celebrate a common Dahi-Handi in the city this year.

To avoid congestion at various chowks and to address security issues during the celebrations and to reduce pressure on the Police Department, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal Celebration Chief & Trustee and Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan brought together various mandals and decided to organise a common Dahi-Handi at historic Lal Mahal Chowk.

PBG President and Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan shared details of the celebrations with the media. For the past some years, PBG and Guruji Talim Mandal have been holding a common Dahi-Handi function. It has become popular within a short period.

Meanwhile, traffic issues have assumed serious proportions in the city. Citizens and commuters face hardships as the Dahi-Handi celebrations progress at major chowks in the city. Moreover, security issues and noise pollution add to the woes of common people.

Considering all these factors, Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan appealed to various mandals to hold common Dahi-Handi celebrations. Responding to his appeal made for a social cause, as many as 35 mandals from the heart of the city responded positively and decided to join the common Dahi-Handi programme.

Thus, a grand, collective Dahi-Handi function will be held at Lal Mahal Chowk in Kasba Peth on Tuesday (August 27). Punit Balan has appealed to Puneites to participate in the collective Dahi-Handi celebrations.

The Ganesh mandals participating in the common Dahi-Handi celebrations inclulde Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust, Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust, Shri Tulshibaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust, Shrimant Peshwe Ganpati Mandir, Puneshwar Mahadev Mandir Utsav Samiti, Navgraha Mitra Mandal Trust, Shri Sane Guruji Tarun Mandal, Hutatma Bhagat Singh Mitra Mandal, Trimuti Mitra Mandal (Manik Chowk), Janardan Pawale Sangh, Suyog Mitra Mandal Samyukta Siddhivinayak Mitra Mandal, Krantivir Rajguru Mandal, Shri Hanuman Mandal (Agrawal Talim), Krantivir Chandra Shekhar Azad Mandal, Janata Janardan Mandal, Vijay Arun Mandal Trust, Vyavahar Ali Chowk Mandal, Shri Abhimanyu Mandal Trust, Shri Krushna Mitra Mandal, Fani Ali Talim Trust, Tarun Shiv Ganesh Mitra Mandal Trust, Oscar Mitra Mandal, Prakash Mitra Mandal, Lokhande Talim Sangh, Twashta Kasar Samaj Sanstha, Bhoiraj Mitra Mandal, Thorle Bajirao Mitra Mandal, Bharat Mitra Mandal, Prabhat Pratishthan, Lal Mahal Navratro Utsav Samiti, Shri Kasba Ganpati Shiv Jayanti Utsav Mandal, Suryoday Pratishthan (Kharadi), Ganesh Mitra Mandal (Alka Chowk), Shri Gajanan Mandal (Laxmi Road) and Gurudatta Mitra Mandal (Mandai).

“The Dahi-Handi celebrations are organised by many Ganesh mandals and other social organisations. However, the police face pressure of arranging security due to the expanding form of celebrations. It also gives rise to traffic issues and noise pollution. Therefore, we decided to find a solution to these problems and wanted to cooperate with the police so that the Puneites do not face hardships. Thus, we will hold a grand, common Dahi-Handi function. All major mandals have supported the decision to participate in the common celebrations. We are thankful to all these mandals.”

• Punit Balan (Celebration Chief and Trustee, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust)