Pune

Festivals And Fair

[ Pune Festival | Ganapati Mahotsav | Sawai Gandharva Music Festival | Osho Festival | Chaturshringi Fair ]


Pune Festival
Ganapati (Ganesha) Festival
It was in Pune in 1894 that Lokmanya Tilak initiated the concept of the "Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav" - the collective communal celebration of the festival of Lord Ganesha. During the month of August or September each year, the city celebrates the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Almost every neighborhood puts up a pandal with an idol of Lord Ganesha, often amidst a mythological setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. The 10-day festival culminates in a carnival-like procession along the busy thoroughfares of the city, with every pandal leading the idol on a float to finally immerse (visarjan) it in the local rivers. This is one of the most important yearly events in the city.

As called the Cultural Capital of Maharashta, Pune has a proud calendar comprising of a number of festivals and cultural activities ranging from Classical Music to Rock Concerts. The Pune Festival, held in the months of August-September during Ganesh Mahotsav, is the biggest festival in the city of Pune. Beginning on the day of the installation of idols of Elephant headed Lord Ganesha, one of the most loved deities of the Hindus; it goes on till the immersion of the Lord's idols on the tenth day. He is worshipped all throughout this period and is called Ganapati Pooja or Ganesh Mahotsav.

This period marks the celebrations in Pune with tourists all over the country and the world coming to attend this event.

With political bigwigs and celebrities patronising it, the Pune Festival has popularised itself immensely over the past few years.

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Ganesh Mahotsav
The Ganesh Mahotsav initiated by Tilak; today is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors almost remain blocked for ten days. Pune has more than 2000 mandals with Dagdusheth Halwai, the biggest and the most famous one.

The Ganesh Mahotsav meanwhile is celebrated with great pomp and show, evident by the hundreds and thousands of Mandals set up in every nook and corner of the city with blaring music and enthusiastic supporters. On the final day processions totaling upto thousands and lakhs march to the river banks of Mula and Mutha to immerse Lord Ganesha's idols chanting "Ganapati Bappa Morya. Pudhchya Varshi Laukar Yaa". The roots of this festival go to pre-independence times when national Pune leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated this kind of celebrations done together to successfully instigate national integrity and spirit to fuel the independence struggle. Today for the outsider the Pune Festival and the Ganapati Mahotsav have become synonymous.

Ganesh Mandals

Kasaba Ganapati
Kasba Ganapati is the first Ganapati of honour in Pune. Since 1894, mandal is being in the first place in the procession. The Kasba Ganapati Utsav is celebrated without use of 'Gulal'. Shivaji Maharaja's mother Jijabai had put up the statue of Ganesh. On her behalf Dadoji Kondadev had put on a tent in front of the statue of Ganesh.

Guruji Talim Mandal
Guruji Talim the Third Ganpati of Honour in Pune. The Mandal was established in1887. This was the first mandal in Pune to celebrate its 100 years. The expenditure of the festival is very rearly collected from the public, it is mostly collected by the members of the mandal. Thus mandal existed even before the Ganesh festival had started.

Tulasi baug Ganapati
Tulshi Baug Ganpati is the Fourth Ganpati of honour in Pune. Peculiarity of this mandal is the Ganesh idol is a new one every year. The size of the idol is about 13 feet in height. The idol is of fiber glass and the mandal is the pioneer in such kind of idol making. The mandal is in its centenary year, next year i.e. in 2002 it completes its 100 years. Through the year the mandal is busy celebrating various festivals. The decoration for this year is 'Sapta Matrika'. These are seven idols hence called 'Sapta Matrika'.

Tambadi Jogeswari
Tambadi Jogeswari is the Second Ganpati of Honour in Pune. Tambdi Jogeswari was one of the early established Ganesh Mandals. The Mandal has already completed its 100 years. The Idol resembles an elephants.

Various functions are organised during the festival by the Mandal. Many people take part in these events keeping social interest in mind. Many people attend the Aarti to seek blessings.
Year of Establishment : 1887
Address : 33, Budhwar Peth, Pune

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Sawai Gandharva
In the month of December, Pune hosts the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. It is dedicated to the Classical Forms of music - both Hindusthani and Carnatic. Many renowned performers of Hindustani classical music perform through 3 consecutive nights creating a hype unique to this city. It is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in the city. People from other parts of Maharashtra and India actively take part in it. It is a great treat for music lovers.

Sawai Gandharva, which started way back in 1960s, has had every Indian and international artist perform and has given rise to a number of budding ones too. It is held in the months of December from dawn to dusk over three days.

One of Pune's most famous and revered Music festivals Sawai Gandharva have built patronage not only in India but all over the globe. The Festival is famous for the internationally acclaimed Indian Classical Music maestros like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Zakir Hussain, Pandit Jasraj, Shiv Kumar Sharma and many budding musicians it presents.

This festival was first organized to mark the first death anniversary of Shri Sawai Gandharva Classical Musician and Guru of famous vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in 1953.

There on from the initial success, this festival has seen growing patronage every year. The festival has seen a numerous amount of changes in location, till the last one, on the grounds of the school New English School, Ramanbaug. The festival has had a reach of some of the top artists in the classical music scene.

With Pandit Bhimsen Joshi making it a point to perform at every festival with the ones, he couldn't due to poor health. The festival starts in the evening and carries on till daybreak over a period of three days.

The ambience ought to be felt to be known. As held during winters, the cold doesn't deter the interest of the listeners who come equipped with blankets. Stalls for Coffees and teas are a must in cold nights, along with samosas and a number of eatables. Many books and cassettes of and about the artists are available. The festival has invitational passes and tickets, which can be, bought on the venue itself. The hot coffees, biting cold, soul stimulating music, and blankets and sleeping children, many non-listeners have turned to classical music with devotion now. Interestingly, you may also find, people sitting near the sound speakers recording the live performances. So for lovers of classical music, Pune Sawai Gandharva is the place for an experience, which is becoming rather rare now days.

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Osho festival
The Osho festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend.

Osho always believed in celebrating life and so does the Commune following in its footsteps! While the community remains in a state of buzz all the time, when they really charge up is on celebrating Osho's death anniversary and his birthday celebrations.

While their millennium celebrations were the stuff that all dreams are made off, with a cultural fiesta that was a feast for the eyes, the best time to catch all the cultural festivities is between November and January.

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Chaturshringi Fair
The Chaturshringi fair, held annually during Navratri on Senapati Bapat Road, is held overnight with giant-wheels and other attractions. A number of College festivals, have become very commercialised, but still attract big crowds and a very high degree of competition from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate festival in India.

Another of the highlights in Pune's cultural diary is the Chaturshringi Fair. This fair is held annually during the Navratri festival at the foothill of Chaturshringhi Temple on Senapati Bapat Road. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga.The fair is an overnight one and starts after dusk. Huge crowds visit the fair throughout its stay. Very similar to a village fair, villagers from near and around come in numbers. Balloon shooting stalls, bangles, rides and artworks provide a good entertainment to the villagers.

The festival is very popular amongst the people in the city and around with adults to college students, all patronising it. It's a good chance for foreigners to get a feel of the villages here and their fairs. The half of Senapati Bapat Road towards University road is absolutely blocked with the fair. Night traffic is diverted and arrangements are made for parking and walking. One can see many auto-rickshaws and six-seaters plying to and for throughout the night.

The MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) organizes this festival which has events like classical dance and music recitals, a Film and drama festival, automobile rallies and some traditional sports. The maestros and stalwarts of their respective events give performances.

This festival has grown bigger and bigger every year with a number of politicians, filmstars and noted celebrities patronising it.

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