12,084 Pune Students Recite Ganesh Stotra Together, Enter Asia Book of Records

Pune, 18th September 2026: More than 12,000 students from schools across Pune participated in a mass online recitation of the Ganesh Stotra, with the initiative earning a place in the Asia Book of Records.

The initiative was organised by the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust in collaboration with Radio Mirchi as part of the Ganeshotsav celebrations. A total of 12,084 students participated in the simultaneous online recitation.

Students from several schools across Pune and surrounding areas joined the programme and recited the Ganesh Stotra online at a designated time. The initiative was organised with the objective of connecting students with the religious traditions associated with Ganeshotsav and creating awareness of Indian culture among them.

The achievement was officially recorded in the Asia Book of Records. Asia Book of Records adjudicator Chitra Jain presented the certificate to Punit Balan, festival chief and trustee of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust.

Schools that participated included Mahesh Vidyalaya English School, Kothrud; Mahesh Vidyalaya Semi English School, Kothrud; Dhaniraj School, Wakad; Poona School and Home for the Blind, Koregaon Park; Jagruti Blind School for Girls; Sinhgad Institute, Erandwane; Ahilyadevi School; Ramanbaug School; KHS School Kannada; NMV School; Huzurpaga schools in Katraj and Narayan Peth; Huzurpaga English Medium School, Narayan Peth; Clara School on BT Kawade Road and Sinhgad Road; Kataria School; Nu Ma Vi Primary School; Professor Nath Hari Purandare Primary School; Vidya Valley International School; and New English School on Tilak Road.

Radio Mirchi team members Jayesh Patil, Smita Randive and Rohan Bhoite contributed to organising the initiative.

Punit Balan, festival chief and trustee of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust, said the objective was to make Ganeshotsav a medium for cultural values and social unity.

“Ganeshotsav should not remain merely a festival but should become a medium for imparting values and promoting social unity. Our aim was to connect students with our culture and devotion to Lord Ganesha through the collective recitation of the Ganesh Stotra,” Balan said.

“The participation of 12,084 students simultaneously through an online platform is certainly a matter of happiness and pride. The enthusiastic response from students made the initiative memorable, and its inclusion in the Asia Book of Records is a significant achievement. With the support of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust and the Radio Mirchi team, we were able to conduct the initiative on a wider scale. This will certainly help spread the message of devotion and culture to a larger audience,” he added.