Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal celebrates the Ganpati festival with a unique tradition every year. Until 1925, the festival was celebrated within the Kasba Ganpati temple. Since 1926, the celebration has taken place in an enclosed mandap. Every year, the festival spans 10 days and is celebrated with ardent fervor, maintaining the same tradition.
On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the welcome rituals for Lord Ganpati begin with a new idol placed in a silver palkhi. Devotees carry the palkhi in a procession to the Utsav Mandap on their shoulders. After bringing the Ganpati idol into the Utsav Mandap, the priest performs the puja of Lord Ganpati, known as ‘Pranpratishtha’. All devotees participate in the puja and arti, marking the commencement of the ten-day Ganesh festival.
During the festival, the mandal conducts various social and cultural programs aimed at personal and community development. Programs such as Bhajans and Satsangs are arranged, with various groups participating with great piety and devotion. In addition to cultural programs, the mandal organizes social initiatives like free eye check-ups, blood check-up camps, talks on social development by renowned social workers, and debates on topics that raise social awareness.
The mandal also provides a great platform for artists from various backgrounds to exhibit their talents through cultural programs organized to celebrate the festival. For children, the “Kasba Kala Karandak” program is organized, where children aged 5 to 16 years perform plays, dances, and other activities to showcase their talents in music, poetry, and art. This activity fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among the youth.
The mandal also strongly supports women empowerment. One day of the festival, generally the fifth day, is dedicated exclusively to women. On this day, female volunteers manage all mandal activities, allowing them to utilize their skills and creativity in a social context. Activities include performing the morning Aarti, evening Puja, receiving and taking care of guests, and managing all support activities.
During the festival, millions of devotees, including dignitaries such as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, various Marathi actors, government officers, and the Commissioner of Pune, perform pooja and worship Shri Kasba Ganpati. The mandal also conducts various activities that educate society on current issues. For example, in 2015, the mandal appealed to devotees to donate one fist of food grain to a drought-affected village in the Ahmednagar district. This appeal quickly became a movement. Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal matched and donated an equal amount of food grains accumulated from the devotees, providing the villagers with enough food for their survival during difficult times.
In another instance, Maharashtra experienced very little rainfall and faced a severe water shortage. As a socially responsible organization, Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal appealed to citizens to immerse the Ganpati idol on the 10th day of the festival in a water tank instead of the river. Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal also immersed the idol of Lord Shri Kasba Ganpati in the tank. This appeal made a significant impact on society and was followed by millions of devotees, helping to save water and conserve the environment. This practice has now become a tradition.
On the 10th day, the idol of Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal is honored by leading the immersion procession in Pune. The idol of Lord Ganesh is then immersed in the sacred river, with the procession led by Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal, followed by other mandals in Pune city.
The ten-day Ganesh festival brings together people of all castes, ages, and genders, united by their love and devotion for Lord Ganesh. People work with great enthusiasm, making this festival a catalyst for socio-cultural development.
