Pune: Puneites bid a grand farewell to Bappa as the 125th Ganeshotsav in the city concluded with a huge procession that lasted for over 28 hours and concluded on Wednesday.
Although it was a sunny day on Tuesday, people began gathering on Lakshmi Road right from 10.30-11 am to watch the procession of the five Manache Ganpatis. The procession started from Lokmanya Tilak statue near Mandai when Mayor Mukta Tilak flagged it off in the presence of Guardian Minister Girish Bapat and former MP Suresh Kalmadi.
The revered Manache Ganpati processions were accompanied by renowned dhol tasha troupes, creatively decorated floats and people dressed in traditional attire. The city deity, Kasba Ganpati, was immersed in a tank at Nateshwar Ghat at 4 pm. Troupes playing dhol tasha, sambal, jhanz, lezim, shankha and brass bands accompanied the five Manache Ganpati.
Young and old alike were a part of the procession. Senior citizens, braving crowds and high-decibel sound, tried to catch glimpses of the Manache Ganapati. Children, perched on their parents’ shoulders, enjoyed the procession. People were dancing enthusiastically to the beats of the dhols, occasionally cheering the performers and shouting ‘Ganpati Bappa Moraya’ enjoying the spirit of the festival to the hilt.
Small vendors sold headbands, bandanas, caps with ‘Ganpati Bappa Moraya’ inscribed on them. Small eateries offered snacks and vendors offered tea and water along the procession route.
While Guruji Talim’s Ganesh idol was riding a ‘Musical Chariot’ decorated with flowers, Tulshibaug Mandal’s idol was carried by a ‘Garud (Eagle) Chariot’. Kasba Ganpati Mandal and Kesariwada Mandal had live floats depicting the right way to celebrate the festival. Like the past eight years,
Swarupvardhini’s students performed Mallakhamb on a float of Tulshibaug Ganpati.
In the evening, the rest of the mandals lined up on Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, Tilak Road, JM Road, with lights and loudspeakers, with people dancing to the music in front of them. Loudspeakers were turned off at 12 midnight, but again turned on at 6 in the morning. Along with old Hindi dance numbers, Mararthi songs and their remixes were being played.
Long procession
Ganesh Mandal Immersion Time
Kasba Ganpati 4:01 pm
Tambdi Jogeshwari 5:32 pm
Guruji Talim 6:11 pm
Tulshibaug 6:50 pm
Kesariwada 7:28 pm
Bhau Rangari 5:30 am
Akhil Mandai Mandal 6:45 am
Dagdusheth 7:55 am
