Pune: Kasba Ganpati Mandal Apologises To Devotees Over 30-Minute Delay In Immersion Procession
Pune, 26th September 2026: The Kasba Ganpati Mandal has apologised to Pune residents and devotees for the 30-minute delay at the start of this year’s immersion procession of the city’s first ‘maanacha’ Ganpati.
The mandal said the delay was the first such instance in the 134-year history of the procession and took responsibility for the lapse. It also assured devotees that necessary planning and coordination would be undertaken to ensure that the delay is not repeated next year.
The immersion procession began on Anant Chaturdashi with the palkhi of Kasba Ganpati. However, the palkhi faced obstacles on the route between the festival pavilion and the Lokmanya Tilak statue at Mahatma Phule Mandai, as chariots of some other mandals were stationed along the route. This resulted in the procession taking longer than expected to move ahead.
The pace was further affected when some members of the dhol-tasha groups accompanying the procession moved back and forth, disrupting the movement and affecting the timing from the outset.
The Kasba Ganpati procession reached Mahatma Phule Mandai at around 9.45am and Belbaug Chowk at 10.28am. After continuing for around six-and-a-half hours, the idol was immersed at 4.40pm.
The Kasba Ganpati Mandal celebrated its 134th Ganeshotsav this year. As the city’s first ‘maanacha’ Ganpati, the timing of its immersion procession has a bearing on the processions of the other ‘maanache’ Ganpatis that follow.
The mandal said it would therefore focus on tighter route coordination and better planning of the procession to avoid delays in the future.
