Pune: Hundreds of Girls Dress as Savitribai Phule at Pune Festival Celebrating Constitution and Social Reform

Pune, 2nd January 2026: In a vibrant homage to constitutional values and social reform, hundreds of girls dressed as Savitribai Phule and participated in a symbolic “Constitutional Awakening” during the inauguration of the Second International Phule Festival in Pune. The event, organized under the guidance of poet and constitutional ambassador Vijay Vadverao, included poetry recitations, cultural performances, and tributes to social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule.

Girls Recite Constitution Passages
Participants, adorned with flowers and dressed in Savitribai-inspired attire, recited excerpts from the Indian Constitution, while Vadverao and other organizers, dressed in Mahatma Phule’s attire, led the collective reading. The S.M. Joshi Foundation Hall in Navi Peth was transformed into a colorful tableau celebrating the ideals and sacrifices of the Phules and other reformers, evoking their enduring legacy.

The festival, which will run until January 5, 2026, has attracted around 800 poets, writers, intellectuals, and artists from India and abroad, including participants from London, Australia, Abu Dhabi, as well as multiple Indian states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Cultural programs featured Marathi ghazal mushairas, solo performances, short plays, musical powadas, and demonstrations promoting women’s empowerment, alongside poetic tributes to Phule, Savitribai, and Fatima Sheikh. The festival also highlighted contributions of other social reformers, including Lahuji Vastad Salve and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Speaking at the event, Vijay Vadverao highlighted the historical importance of Pune’s first girls’ school, founded by Mahatma Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule in Bhidewada, and said the festival aims to preserve their legacy, promote their pioneering work in women’s education, and inspire future generations. He announced plans for a national campaign to honor the couple with the Bharatratna award, recognizing their selfless contributions to social reform.

Vadverao also underscored ongoing efforts at the district and state levels to organize programs that celebrate the Phules’ vision and their fight against a rigid social order that suppressed women’s education. “Through these initiatives, we aim to instill Phule’s ideals in the next generation and continue their mission of social justice and equality,” he said.