Pune: Historic Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Welcomes Bappa with Grand Procession and Jaya Kishori’s Consecration
Pune, 27th August 2025: Pune’s most historic Ganesh mandal — the Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Public Ganpati Trust, credited with starting India’s first public Ganesh festival — welcomed Lord Ganesh with unmatched grandeur and devotion at its iconic Ratnamahal premises on Wednesday.
The day-long festivities began with a ceremonial puja and aarti of the idol at Rangari Bhavan by festival chief and trustee Punit Balan and his wife Janhavi Dhariwal-Balan. This was followed by a grand procession, where tradition and cultural vibrancy came alive.
The idol, sculpted and adorned with flowers and banana stems, was placed on a beautifully decorated chariot. Resonant beats of the Aadhav brothers’ nagara, along with multiple dhol-tasha pathaks and cultural troupes, filled the streets with energy. The chariot, true to tradition, was manually pulled by office bearers and volunteers dressed in white kurtas and saffron turbans.
Spectators were enthralled by martial arts demonstrations from the Shree Shivajiraje Mardani Akhada, who showcased age-old techniques of lathi-kathi, dandpatta, and swordplay. Actor Siddharth Jadhav and other noted artists added star power, walking alongside thousands of devotees. The vibrant procession traversed Shivaji Road, Wednesday Peth, Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, Appa Balwant Chowk, and Bajirao Road, before returning to Ratnamahal.
At around 1:30 p.m., renowned spiritual speaker Jaya Kishori performed the sacred pranpratishtha (consecration) ceremony amidst Vedic chants, marking the official arrival of Bappa. In the evening, Punit and Janhavi Balan led the aarti attended by dignitaries and massive crowds.
Speaking on the occasion, Punit Balan said, “This is the most awaited and joyous day for every Ganesh devotee. Under Jaya Kishori’s auspicious hands, Bappa’s consecration has been completed with devotion. Over the next ten days, we will host various social and religious programs, including free health camps, and invite everyone to seek Bappa’s blessings.”
Sharing her sentiments, Jaya Kishori added, “This is my second consecutive year attending Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati. The atmosphere here beautifully blends devotion and patriotism. While enjoying the festivities, we must also preserve our faith, culture, and national pride. My best wishes to all for Ganeshotsav.”
The arrival procession marked the official beginning of Pune’s Ganeshotsav, drawing massive crowds of Punekars and devotees who flocked to witness the city’s oldest and most revered Ganpati mandal.
