Pune : The Pune Festival, a vibrant cultural extravaganza that brings together an enchanting confluence of art, culture, singing, instrumental music, dance, literature, sports and tourism development, is celebrating its glorious 38th year this year. The Pune Festival will be held from September 14 to September 25, 2026, during the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival will be inaugurated by the hands of Hon. Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday, September 18, at 4:30 p.m. at Shree Ganesh Kala-Krida Rangmanch, Swargate, Pune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hon. Governor of Maharashtra, Jishnu Dev Varma; Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis; Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar; Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Pune Festival Advisory Committee Chairman Chandrakant Dada Patil; Pune Festival Patron, actress, and danseuse Hema Malini,(MP); Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol; former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will be present as the chief guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smt. Medha Kulkarni (MP), Minister of State for Revenue Madhuri Misal, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and and Vikas Pansare, Director, Directorate of Tourism, Mumbai, Tourism Department Govt of Maharashtra, will be present as a special invitee., informed Pune Festival President Krishnakumar Goyal at a press conference. Present on the occasion were Pune Festival Cheif Coordinator Adv. Abhay Chhajed, Pune Festival General Secretary Dr. Satish Desai and Maharashtra Tourism Department Project Officer Mayur Nandre .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this press conference, the Pune Festival logo was unveiled by Krishnakumar Goyal, President of the Pune Festival. Additionally, as part of the ‘Blind Free Pune’ (Andh Mukt Pune) movement, a joint initiative by the Pune Festival and Alliance Club has been arranged to set up special centers at Shri. Ganesh Kala Krida Rangamanch, Balgandharva Rangmandir and Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha\u2014where the Pune Festival events take place\u2014to distribute eye donation forms. Stating this, Pune Festival President Krishnakumar Goyal announced ‘Radio Mirchi’ has become the radio partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 38th Pune Festival is being dedicated to the memory of its Founder-President and former Member of Parliament from Pune, Suresh Kalmadi. A 9-minute film based on their contribution will be shown on this occasion. Sanjog Desai of Mumbai’s Nakshatra Media Work has produced this film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Shree Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, the major attractions will include the Grand Inaugural Ceremony, ‘Sufi Music’, ‘Kerala Mahotsav’, ‘Hindi Hasya Kavi Sammelan’, \u2018Marathi Bana\u2019 presented by Ashok Hande and \u2018MHJ Live (Hasya Jatra)’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, various cultural programmes at Balgandharva Rangmandir and Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, exhibitions at Balgandharva Art gallery and various sporting competitions will be among the highlights of this year\u2019s Pune Festival. All Pune Festival programmes are free and open to art and culture enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lokmanya Tilak took the tradition of public Ganeshotsav to every corner of Maharashtra. At that time, the celebrations featured programmes such as storytelling, kirtan, powada, folk arts and cultural gatherings. Inspired by this rich tradition, Hon. Suresh Kalmadi, who was then the Chairman of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, launched the grand cultural festival \u2018Pune Festival\u2019 in 1989.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuing for ten consecutive days and completing 38 years, the Pune Festival is regarded as one of the major cultural festivals in the country. Inspired by its success, several other cultural festivals were subsequently launched. Hence, the Pune Festival is fondly referred to as the \u2018Mother of All Festivals\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi served as the President of the Pune Festival from its inception. Veteran actress and danseuse, Padma Shri. Hema Malini (MP) is the Patron of the Pune Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pune Festival is organized jointly by the Pune Festival Committee, citizens of Pune and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Installation of Shri Ganesh – The ceremonial installation of \u2018Shree\u2019 of the 38th Pune Festival will take place on Monday, September 14, at 10:00 a.m. at Hotel Saras, Nehru Stadium, Pune. PMRDA Commissioner and CEO Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhari along with his wife Dr. Anushree Chaudhari will perform the installation ceremony. Vedmurti Pandit Dhananjay Ghate Guruji will conduct the religious rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTDC, Kohinoor, Suma Shilp Ltd and Pride are the Main Sponsors of the 38th Pune Festival. Panchshil and Bharat Forge are the co-sponsors and Suhana, NECC, Kumar Properties, Ahura Builders are the Associate Sponsors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pune Festival Awards – Eminent personalities who have made outstanding contributions over the years in various fields are felicitated during the Pune Festival\u2019s inaugural ceremony with the \u2018Lifetime Achievement Award\u2019 and the \u2018Pune Festival Award\u2019. The Suresh Kalmadi Pune Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, being instituted from this year, will be presented to Sr. Actor Mohan Joshi. Veteran filmmaker and director Kiran Shantaram, veteran writer and director Atul Pethe, Indian Women Hockey Association Ex-President Arnavaz Damania and Flying Officer Nidhi Sudhir Agarwal will be honoured with the ‘Pune Festival Award’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jai Ganesh Awards – Every year, public Ganeshotsav mandals in Pune completing a century of their existence are honoured during the Pune Festival\u2019s inaugural ceremony with the \u2018Jai Ganesh’ Award, instituted in memory of the Late Prataprao alias Tatya Godse of Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust. This year, the award will be presented to Ranmard Shivaji Mandal, Nehru Chowk, Shukrawar Peth and Shri Hanuman Mandal Pratishthan, Manik Chowk, Kasba Peth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inaugural Ceremony – As in previous years, this year\u2019s inaugural ceremony will be a spectacular celebration. The programme will commence with a soulful shehnai recital by veteran shehnai player Tukaram Daithankar and his accompanying artists. This will be followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and Shree Ganesh Aarti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The inaugural ceremony will also feature glimpses of spectacular cultural performances, including ‘Ganesh Vandana’ – The ceremony will commence with a Kathak dance performance by veteran dance guru Sharvari Jamenis. Ten disciples from her Sharvari Jamenis Dance Company will accompany her as co-artists. The Ganesh Vandana will be performed to the popular aarti \u2018Shendur Laal Chadhayo\u2019, sung by renowned singer Mahesh Kale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
'Maharashtra Sanman Geet' \u2013 50 students of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University's School of Performing Arts will present the Maharashtra Sanman Geet.<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\u2018Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam\u2019- A special dance presentation will be performed by Symbiosis International University under the guidance of “Pro-Chancellor” Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar. The performance has been directed by Amruta Ruikar, Director of the university’s Symbiosis Centre for International Education. The presentation will feature 15 Indian students and 23 international students from 20 countries. The participating international students represent Uganda, Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Fiji, Nigeria, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Germany, Belgium and Argentina. Based on the theme \u2018One World \u2013 One Family\u2019, the students will showcase the rich cultural heritage of their respective countries through music and dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Chak De India\u2019 – Last year, the Indian women\u2019s cricket team created history by winning the Women\u2019s Cricket World Cup held in India. In honour of this historic achievement, a special dance presentation titled \u2018Chak De India\u2019 will be staged. The concept and direction are by Adv. Anuradha Bharti. The presentation will feature a unique depiction of the Tricolour through painting, dance, conch shell blowing and choreography. The Maharashtra women\u2019s cricket team will participate in the presentation. The performance will feature nine dancers, 13 women conch shell players, 10 women painters from Nivedita Pratishthan\u2019s Aakruti Group and 12 women cricketers from the Maharashtra Cricket Academy. Towards the finale, all the participating artists will come together to create a vibrant representation of the Tricolour through their respective art forms, accompanied by the resounding sound of conch shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje\u2019 – To commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of veteran filmmaker V. Shantaram, a special presentation titled \u2018Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje\u2019 will be presented by ‘Payal Vrund’ as a tribute to the legendary filmmaker and his enduring contribution to Indian cinema. Actresses Mansi Naik and Bhargavi Chirmule, along with other artistes, will participate in the presentation. The concept and direction have been undertaken by Nikita Moghe, dance guru of ‘Payal Vrund’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Vande Mataram\u2019 – India\u2019s national song \u2018Vande Mataram\u2019 is completing 150 years. This immortal composition by eminent poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay continues to inspire and evoke a sense of pride and patriotism in millions of Indians. As a tribute to the iconic song, dancers from the SNSS Institute for the Promotion of Classical Dance will present a special dance performance. Representing the participating artistes, Amira Patankar of Naadroop Sanstha, Arundhati Patwardhan of Kalavardhini Dance Company and Rasika Gumaste of Akanksha Odissi Nrityalaya will present a beautiful confluence of the Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance traditions. A total of 24 dancers will participate in the performance, which will be presented under the guidance of veteran dance guru Kshama Bhate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The inaugural ceremony will be hosted in Marathi by Rahul Solapurkar and in English by Sameera Gujar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Special Programmes at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Saturday, September 19, 7:00 p.m. \u2013 Sufi Music
\u2022 Sunday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. \u2013 Kerala Mahotsav
\u2022 Sunday, September 20, 7:00 p.m. \u2013 Hindi Hasya Kavi Sammelan
\u2022 Monday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. \u2013 Marathi Bana
\u2022 Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 p.m. \u2013 MHJ Live (Hasya Jatra)<\/p>\n\n\n\n