Pune. As many as 35,000 women chanted ‘Atharvashirsha’ at the famous Dagdusheth Ganapati pandal on Wednesday morning, on the second day of the 10-day Ganeshotsav. ‘Atharvashirsha’, a Sanskrit text, is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, a deity of knowledge, wisdom and good fortune.
According to the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust, this is the 36th year of the annual recital of Atharvashirsha at their Ganesh festival celebrations. Clad in traditional attire, 35,000 women filled the space in front of the popular Dagdusheth Ganapati pandal. They then chanted the hymn.
The holy event was organised by the Temple Trust as a part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. A group of Russian nationals were also invited as guests to witness the prayer. Women from across the city gathered near the pandal in traditional attire and attended the prayers.
The theme of this year’s decoration at the pandal is the replica of the under-construction Ram Mandir of Ayodya. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat Ji on Tuesday performed a special puja at the famous pandal on the first day of the 10-day festival.
The public celebration of the festival in the state dates back to the 1890s when the nationalist Bal Gangadhar Tilak and others decided to use it to mobilise the masses.
Ganesh mandals in Mumbai and other major cities took large idols in processions accompanied by dhol-tasha beats to their pandals in the last few days. House hold Ganesh idols were brought mostly on Monday night or in the morning on Tuesday with chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’.
