By | Sachin Dhumal
Pune: The city witnessed a wave of excitement this morning on the eve of Ganeshotsav as the grand procession of the renowned Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandal commenced with great enthusiasm.
Like every year, the procession began with traditional music and instruments, filling the air with devotion and energy. The entire temple premises echoed with the chants of “Morya Morya” as devotees gathered to witness the spectacle.
This year, the highlight of the procession is a beautifully decorated floral chariot carrying the Ganpati idol. The mandal has also created an impressive replica of Kerala’s sacred Padmanabha Swamy Temple. After the procession, the Ganpati idol will be ceremoniously installed in the festival pavilion, followed by the Pran Pratishtha (consecration rituals).
The inauguration of the Padmanabha Swamy Temple replica took place on August 27, led by Swami Ghanshyamacharya Maharaj from Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh. The temple inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 7 PM today, as announced by the trust president Sunil Rasane during a press conference.
This year also marks the 133rd foundation anniversary of the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust and the Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal Trust.
The original Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is among the 108 sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu in the Vaishnav tradition. A grand replica of this holy temple now forms the centerpiece of this year’s Ganeshotsav celebrations in Pune.