Pune Dahihandi 2026: Celebrities and Social Media Stars to Add Glamour to City Celebrations

Pune, 31st August 2026: The rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha, thrilling human pyramids formed by Govinda pathaks and appearances by popular celebrities are set to make this year’s Dahihandi celebrations in Pune a grand and glamorous affair.

Dahihandi celebrations across the city are increasingly becoming star-studded events, with organisers inviting popular actors from Marathi films and television serials along with social media influencers. The trend, which has long been associated with Mumbai’s grand Dahihandi celebrations, is now gaining significant popularity in Pune.

Over the past few years, the number of Dahihandi events has increased considerably across Pune and its suburbs. Celebrations are being organised in several areas, including Shivajinagar, Kothrud, Sahakarnagar, Warje, Bavdhan, Dhayari, Ambegaon, Hadapsar and Viman Nagar, apart from the traditional celebrations in the central parts of the city.

This year, popular Marathi personalities including Namrata Sambherao, Sayali Sanjeev, Akshara Devdhar, Prasad Khandekar, Shruti Marathe and Smita Gondkar are expected to make appearances at various Dahihandi celebrations.

While some celebrity appearances have already been confirmed, organisers are still in discussions with several artistes. More names are likely to be announced in the coming days.

The growing presence of social media influencers is also changing the way local Dahihandi celebrations are promoted. Influencers with large followings on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook are increasingly being invited to events, helping organisers reach wider audiences and generate greater engagement online.

Laxmikant Gund, who works in celebrity management, said Pune is rapidly following Mumbai’s trend of bringing celebrities to Dahihandi celebrations.

“Celebrities have always been part of Dahihandi celebrations in Mumbai, but this trend is now growing rapidly in Pune as well. This year, organisers are giving preference to Marathi film and television actors, dancers and social media influencers. The presence of female artistes has become a special attraction,” he said.

According to Gund, Marathi celebrities generally charge between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for event appearances, depending on their popularity and other factors.

“In several cases, artistes are finalised just one or two days before the event. Therefore, more names of celebrities and influencers may be announced in the coming days,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Sharda-Gajanan Dahihandi Utsav Mandal in Market Yard has invited actress Sai Manjrekar for its celebrations this year.

Sagar Bhosale, associated with the Sharda-Gajanan Dahihandi Utsav Mandal, said celebrity appearances have always been a major attraction for Pune residents, particularly youngsters.

“The presence of film stars at Dahihandi celebrations has always generated excitement among Punekars. This year, we have invited actress Sai Manjrekar, and her presence will further enhance the attraction of the event. The traditional enthusiasm of Dahihandi, the thrilling performances of Govinda pathaks and cultural programmes will create a vibrant festive atmosphere in the Market Yard area,” he said.

As Pune gears up for Dahihandi celebrations, the festival is expected to offer a blend of tradition, entertainment and digital-age popularity. While Govinda pathaks and their spectacular human pyramids remain at the heart of the festival, the growing presence of celebrities and influencers is adding a new dimension of glamour to the city’s festivities.