| The Ganesh Festival was pioneered by
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Indian freedom fighter and founder of
"Kesari". He insisted that the festival of Lord Ganesha, the Elephant headed God
of Hindus, should be worshipped with great enthusiasm, in order to bring peace and
communal harmony in India. He started this festival in Pune in the year 1893. Shreemant Dagadusheh Halwai, a local sweet-maker from Pune,
s upported him
actively by consecrating an idol of Lord Ganesha. Later on, in 1896, a new idol was
consecrated. This idol is presently kept in "Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai
Mandir", where over one million devotees pay their repects every year. This mandir is
managed by the staff appoinetd by Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Trust, Pune,
INDIA, for the same.
The ten days long Ganeshotsav is a feast to all
Ganesh devotees. For many years, the trust is displaying the famous temples of India in
the form of a decoration during the Ganapati Festival. These include Sheesh Mahal of
Indore, Bikaner Palace, Mysore Palace, Laxmi Vilas Palace of Baroda, Sorti Somnath Temple
of Gujarat and many more.
Established in 1893, Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai
Ganapati Trust, Pune INDIA, is engaged in various socio-cultural activites in and around
Pune, apart from the famous Ganeshotsav. The Trust also encourages various other local
Ganesh Festival organisations by honoring them with various prizes. The trust also
felicitates various prominent personalities and honor their services to the community.
Considering the social responsibility, the trust is also active in various Social and
Charitable activites, which include a free ambulance service for the poor, homes for the
needy brick factory workers, Child Care home for the children of prostitutes, a telephone
booth, etc.
The ten days long Ganesh Festival of Shreemant
Dagadusheth Halwai Trust, Pune, India is marked by various activites like Poojas,
Maha-poojas, Abhishekas, etc.These activities are performed by various devotees of the
Lord spread all over the world. TheTrust performs the follwoing poojas during the
festival.
- Shree Ganesh Yaag
- Shree Vishnu Yaag
- Shree Rudra Yaag
- Shree Devi Yaag and trishat koti Devata Homa
- Laksha Archana
- Kumkum Archana
- Mahabhishek and Rudrabhishek
During the ten days, 2,500 school children from
local school recite "Shree Ganapati Atharvashirsha" for 625,000 times. Since
1990, 11000 ladies from the City of Pune are taking part in the festival and performing
their pooja before The Lord Ganesha.
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