Pune: State-Level Contest Announced for Ganesh Mandals; Offers Rs 5 Lakh First Prize
Pune, 18th July 2025: In a move to encourage community-driven cultural celebrations, the Department of Cultural Affairs, through the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, has announced the ‘Maharashtra State Best Public Ganesh Mandal Competition 2025’ for registered or licensed public Ganesh mandals across the state.
Online applications will be accepted from July 20 to August 20, 2025, and the competition is completely free of charge, as per the announcement made by Academy Director Meenal Joglekar.
Purpose of the Competition
The initiative aims to promote inclusive, culturally rich, and socially responsible Ganeshotsav celebrations. The evaluation will be based on several key criteria:
-Organization of cultural events and competitions
-Efforts toward the preservation of heritage and forts
-Awareness and conservation of religious and historical monuments
-Execution of social initiatives
-Use of eco-friendly idols and decorations
-Maintenance of a noise-free environment
-Amenities provided to devotees
This competition seeks to encourage best practices that blend devotion with environmental and cultural consciousness.
The Ganesh festival begins on August 27, and during the festivities, district-level committees formed by respective District Collector offices will visit participating mandals. Based on their assessments, 44 recommendations will be sent to the state level:
-3 each from Pune, Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, and Thane
-1 from each remaining district
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Academy’s official online portal. For further assistance, interested mandals are advised to contact their local district collector offices.
Prize Structure:
According to Adv. Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, State-level winners will receive:
-₹5,00,000 for 1st prize
-₹2,50,000 for 2nd prize
-₹1,00,000 for 3rd prize
-District-level winners will be awarded ₹25,000 each along with a certificate of merit.
