Pune Ganeshotsav 2026: 251-kg Modak Cake Offered to Dagdusheth Ganpati

Reported by Radhika Sharma and Shoaib Tadvi
Budhwar Peth, 18th September 2026: On Friday, 18th September 2026, Pune’s WS Bakers offered a 251-kg, modak-shaped cake to the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust, turning a routine Ganeshotsav morning in Budhwar Peth into a festive spectacle. The giant cake, crafted to resemble Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet, was brought to the Prem Mandir Ganpati Pandal at 7:30 am and placed before the revered idol for a brief consecration. Devotees gathered early to witness the offering, offer prayers, and click photographs as the cake was formally dedicated to Bappa. After the rituals, it was moved out of the inner sanctum so visitors could get a closer look before it was distributed as prasad, in keeping with the tradition of sharing blessed food with all who come to the pandal.

This year, the Dagdusheth Ganpati pandal is themed around Vrindavan’s Prem Mandir, a large-scale decorative structure inspired by the famous temple of love. The replica, created by the Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal, the trust’s official youth wing, spans roughly 120 feet in length, 90 feet in width and 100 feet in height, featuring marble-like finishes, North Indian temple motifs, and scenes from Krishna’s life such as Rasleela and Govardhan Leela. Against this grand backdrop, the modak cake stood out as both an offering and a photo opportunity, drawing clusters of families and young devotees throughout the morning.

Vikar Agarwal, director of WS Bakers, described the gesture as part of a growing tradition for the bakery. “This is now our second year dedicating an offering, and cake has gradually become a symbol of celebration, so the idea was to celebrate Bappa with a celebratory cake, in the shape of the modak, that he adores,” he said. By choosing the modak form, WS Bakers linked modern celebratory culture, birthday and milestone cakes, with the classic Ganeshotsav association of modak as Ganesha’s preferred prasad.

Yatish Rasane, Executive President of Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal, welcomed the initiative as a community-building gesture. “We really appreciate Mr Vikas Agarwal and WS Bakers for this initiative; it really brings the community together,” Rasane said. The offering fits into the wider spirit of Ganeshotsav in Pune, where local businesses, mandals, and residents collaborate on decorations, processions, and prasad distribution, turning the 11-day festival into a citywide celebration.

Ganeshotsav 2026 in Pune began on 14 September, with the Dagdusheth Ganpati idol brought to the pandal in a grand procession on a peacock chariot before being installed at the Prem Mandir-themed display. The festival is scheduled to conclude on 25 September, when the idol will be taken for immersion in the afternoon. During this period, the Dagdusheth pandal typically sees a heavy rush of devotees, with large numbers visiting daily to seek blessings and participate in the festivities.