Pune: Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati idol installed amidst fanfare (Videos)
Famous Singer Padma Shri Kailash Kher performs ‘Pran Pratishtha’; office-bearers pull Bappa’s chariot
Pune: Hindustan’s first Ganpati mandal Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust’s Ganesh idol was installed at Varad Vighneshwar Wada on Saturday (September 7) in the presence of thousands of devotees with much fanfare.
Famous Singer Padma Shri Kailash Kher performed the installation amidst chants hailing the deity at around 12.45 pm. Earlier, the idol was brought to the venue in a grand procession led by Dhol-Tasha Pathaks. Thousands of Ganesh Bhakts participated in the procession.
Trust Celebration Chief and Trustee Punit Balan and Janhavi Dhariwal Balan worshipped Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati and performed the ‘Aarti’ at around 8.15 am.
Later, ‘Shikhandi’, a group of transgenders, conducted ‘Gajar’ (a kind of chanting) for 10 minutes. The atmosphere at the Bhavan was filled with devotion. Then the Bappa’s procession began in a chariot decorated with roses of various colours. As the procession arrived on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road, huge crowds witnessed the Dhol-Tasha Pathak’s performance welcoming the deity and traditional games demonstrated by the ‘Shri Shivajiraje Mardani Akhada’ team at every chowk.
This is the 133rd year of the public festival. However, for the first time in over century-old history, the tradition of pulling the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Bappa’s chariot by a pair of bullocks (Rath) was done away with. It was instead pulled by mandal office-bearers, workers and the Balans.
The procession returned to the Varad Vighneshwar Wada, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust via Budhwar Chowk, Tambdi Jogeshwari Mandir, Appa Balwant Chowk and Bajirao Road. Then the idol was installed amidst traditional rituals by famous Singer Padma Shri Kailash Kher. Chief Trustee and Celebration Chief Shri. Punit Balan and Sou. Janhavi Dhariwal-Balan performed the ‘Aarti’. After the installation ceremony, Kailash Kher sang a few of his popular songs as demanded by devotees, who cheered and applauded him.
Before the procession, Lathi-Kathi, traditional games were performed and conches were blown. Later, seven Dhol-Tasha Pathaks saluted in front of Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Bhavan. Shivmudra, Vadyavrund, Manvandana, Shree, NuMaVi, Kalawant and Shriram pathaks participated in the procession. The heart of the city reverberated with the beats of Dhol-Tasha. Dignitaries from various walks of life were present. ‘Gajvandana’ performed by Padma Shri Kailash Kher and Punit Balan Studios was screened on the occasion.
“The day we eagerly wait for is the happiest day today. Bappa arrived amidst a devotional atmosphere. Famous Singer Padma Shri Kailash Kher installed the idol. Various social and religious programmes will be held during the festival. Maximum devotees should arrive here to have a glimpse (Darshan) of Bappa.”
- Punit Balan (Celebration Chief and Trustee, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust)
“I got the honour to install the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati idol. I feel it is Bappa’s blessing. I prayed to Ganesha to make our motherland divine and spiritual, to protect all of us from natural disasters and to keep our country safe.”
- Kailash Kher (famous Singer)
