Pune Ganeshotsav 2026: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia to Perform Pran Pratishtha of Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati
Pune, 12th September 2026: The city’s historic Ganeshotsav tradition is set to begin with a grand homecoming for the idol of the Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, regarded as India’s first public Ganpati, on Monday, September 14.
The idol’s pran pratishtha will be performed at 12.30 pm by renowned flautist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, following a traditional procession accompanied by the beats of Pune’s famous dhol-tasha troupes.
“As every year, the Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati idol will be brought in a grand procession before the pran pratishtha ceremony by the renowned flautist and Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. I request all Ganesh devotees to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony,” said Punit Balan, festival chief and trustee of the Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust.
According to Balan, the celebrations will begin in the morning with an aarti of Lord Ganesha.
The main procession will set out at 8.15 am from Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Bhavan. Several dhol-tasha groups, including Shri Ram Pathak, Nadabrahma, Dnyanaprabodhini, Avartan, Vadyavrund, Samarth, Shivay, Indra Garjana and Keshav Shankhanad, will participate in the procession.
The procession will also feature a nagar khana and traditional Mardani Khel performances by the Adhav brothers, adding a traditional cultural dimension to the celebrations.
From the Bhavan, the procession will proceed along Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road towards Budhwar Chowk. It will then pass by Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, Appa Balwant Chowk and Bajirao Road, before reaching the beautifully decorated Ganesh Suvarnadham venue.
Following the procession, the ceremonial pran pratishtha of the idol will take place at 12.30 pm, with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia performing the ritual.
The occasion holds particular significance in Pune’s long association with public Ganeshotsav. The Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati is widely associated with the origins of the public Ganesh festival and remains one of the city’s most prominent traditional Ganpati celebrations.
Balan appealed to devotees to participate in the pran pratishtha ceremony.
