Foreign Devotees Mesmerized by Pune’s Ganeshotsav Grandeur, Heritage trail
Pune, 29th August 2025: The splendor of Pune’s Ganeshotsav and the city’s centuries-old heritage left foreign devotees awe-struck as they joined a specially curated heritage walk and Ganpati darshan under the ongoing Global Ganesh Festival.
Organized jointly by Rashtrapratham Trust, Sadaiva Foundation, and Amit Phatak Foundation, with the support of the Higher and Technical Education Department, Maharashtra Tourism Department, and Cultural Affairs Department, the initiative has been designed for international students pursuing higher education under Savitribai Phule Pune University. Around 400 students are expected to participate in the two-day programme, of which nearly 200 students from countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ghana, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Italy joined on the opening day.
The walk began Thursday afternoon at the Trishund Ganpati Mandir in Somwar Peth. Students were welcomed with a traditional aukshan before learning about the temple’s Peshwa-era history. Members of Shivajiraje Mardani Akhada staged a display of Mardani Khel (martial arts), which also saw Italian actress Ana Mara perform briefly, drawing applause from participants.
The trail then moved to Kasaba Ganpati Mandir, the city’s gramdaivat, where the foreign visitors were introduced to the temple’s origins and festive traditions. Later, at HV Desai College, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and entrepreneur Punit Balan interacted with the students, underscoring the cultural and educational significance of such exchanges.
Students also visited the Shreemant Bhau Rangari Ganpati Mandir and the historic Bhau Rangari Bhavan, closely associated with India’s freedom movement. The highlight of the day came at the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, where the visitors, braving crowds, witnessed the grandeur of the deity and participated in the evening aarti.
To add a contemporary touch to the heritage trail, organizers also arranged a Pune Metro ride from Mandai to Swargate for the students. The first day concluded with a cultural programme at Shubharambh Lawns.
Santosh Rokade, Deputy Secretary, and Shama Pawar, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department, along with Festival coordinators Aniruddha Yewale, Mahesh Sane, Rishikesh Kayat, Jivraj Chole, Chinmay Wagh, Trishund Ganpati, Sachin Pawar & Soham Pawar, were present, along with officials from various departments of the Government of Maharashtra.
The initiative, organizers said, aims to showcase Pune’s cultural wealth to foreign students and help them experience the city’s unique blend of tradition, devotion, and history during Ganeshotsav.
