Pune Ganesh Visarjan 2015

It was a much awaited trip to be a part of the Ganesh Visarjan procession at Pune and finally I got a chance to experience it.  Ganesh Festival in Pune was started with Bal Gangadhar Tilak  with five mancha ganapati's. This was a platform for community gathering, and  sharing their pains and gains with neighbours.

We started from Mumbai at around  06:40 am by Intercity Express and reached Pune at around 10.30 am. We had break-fast at a local joint and headed to Laxmi Road, the place of all processions .

A huge welcome rangoli was drawn at the centre. 

There were five “Manache” Ganapati mandals – Kasba Ganapati mandal, Tambadi Jogeshwari mandal, Guruji Talim mandal, Tulshibaug mandal and Kesriwada Trust mandal.

We were on the road to witness the charisma of five Manache Ganpatis. All eyes were looking into one direction only.

We reached just-in-time to wave goodbye to the first Ganapati.

The traditional ways of Dhols and attires of Navarri Sarees and Kurtas made the processions more colorful .

As the tradition goes, each Moorti has a Dhol Pathak (Group of members playing Dhols) leading the procession.  Each of them have their own way of attire.

Pune’s Iconic Dhol Pathak (Drum troupes)

Everyone were jumping with joy and dancing to the tunes of the dhols. With each beat, energy levels were going up.

The streets were filled with thousands of participants enjoying the drum beats.

Each of the Pathak, with their royalty and grandeur ,took us back to the history of Shivaji's times.

The traditional way of  all the five  grand processions were electric. 

As  the dhol beats were rising, energy levels were up and everyone waited with their heads and hearts on the road for the next Pathak to enter.

Some wore costumes that carried a message, banners, hoardings, placards etc etc . Some chose to use the procession as a platform to promote their message.

When the sun was high and energy low, we headed back to a local joint in the afternoon hours. After taking rest for some time, we headed to the river next to the bridge where Ganesh idols are ideally immersed. Pune Municipal Corporation had made arrangements to  immerse Lord Ganesh idols in water tanks rather than going in for the usual river immersions. But some of them preferred  the immersion into the river only.

As the light of the day dimmed, the colorful lights on the Ganesh Pandals became brighter.  Each pathak had a theme.

The crowd got thicker and the sounds got louder with Bollywood music. 

After another few hours of dancing, it was time to leave. Finally we had enjoyed the most awaiting festival in Pune- Ganesh Visarjan 2015.