Ganeshotsav 2026: Pune’s Ganesh Mandals Send Idols to Kashmir Amid Terror Threats
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 9th September 2026: Public Ganeshotsav celebrations in the Kashmir Valley will continue this year despite alleged death threats issued by terrorist organisations to activists planning to organise the festival, organisers said.
Refusing to be deterred by the threats, members of Ganesh mandals in Kashmir have resolved to celebrate Ganeshotsav with enthusiasm this year as well. In a show of solidarity, idols of three prominent Ganesh mandals from Pune were formally worshipped and handed over to representatives of Ganesh mandals in Kashmir.
The initiative has been supported for the fifth consecutive year by Pune-based entrepreneur Punit Balan, along with prominent Ganesh mandals in the city.
“Public Ganeshotsav was planned in four to five districts of Kashmir this year. However, activists involved in organising the celebrations have received death threats from terrorist organisations. Despite this, their determination to celebrate Ganeshotsav without worrying about their own lives is commendable. Their courage deserves to be appreciated,” said Punit Balan, trustee and festival chief of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust.
Ganeshotsav returns to Lal Chowk after 34-year gap
Public Ganeshotsav celebrations resumed at Lal Chowk in Kashmir in 2022 after remaining suspended for nearly 34 years. Over the past three years, the festival has subsequently been celebrated at several locations across the Kashmir Valley.
This year, organisers are planning to expand the celebrations to more locations and give the festival a wider public presence across the Valley.
For this year’s celebrations, idols of Pune’s Manacha Pahila Shri Kasba Ganpati, Manacha Dusra Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari and Manacha Tisra Ganpati Guruji Talim were ceremonially worshipped before being handed over to representatives of the Kashmir-based Ganesh mandals.
Representatives from Kashmir, including Mohit Bhan, Rishabh Chaku, Shishant Chaku, Sandeep Raina, Sanjeev Raina, Hitesh Raina and Sandeep Kaul, were present to receive the idols.
The handover ceremony was attended by Punit Balan, trustee and festival chief of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust; Ulhas Kadam, Senior Police Inspector of Alankar Police Station; Pravin Pardeshi of Guruji Talim Mandal; Vikas Pawar, president of Tulshibaug Mandal; Prashant Tikar of Tambdi Jogeshwari Mandal; and Suraj Thorat of Akhil Mandai Mandal, among others.
The initiative comes as Ganesh mandals in Kashmir prepare to continue a public celebration that has gradually expanded since its return in 2022, despite security concerns and alleged threats.
