Pune’s Ganesh immersion festivities began with great fervor, drawing large crowds of devotees. The highlight of the event was the immersion of Shri Kesariwada Ganpati, the fifth of Pune's prestigious Ganpatis, which took place at 7:33 PM on Tuesday (September 17) amidst a devotional and vibrant atmosphere.
With this, the immersion of all five revered perstigious Ganpati idols of Pune has been completed. This year, the entire process for the immersion of these esteemed idols took approximately 8 hours.
The procession for Shri Kesariwada Ganpati began with a floral tribute to the statue of Lokmanya Tilak at Mahatma Phule Mandai. Lord Ganesha was majestically seated in a flower-adorned palanquin, and the event saw musical performances by Shri Ram, Shivmudra, and the Aavartan dhol-tasha groups, which captivated the devotees.
Leading the procession was the Bidwe Brothers’ traditional shehnai performance, while Mohan Shete, dressed as Lokmanya Tilak, added a historical touch to the proceedings.
The “Mauli” chariot featuring a grand statue of Lord Vitthal became a central attraction. Several notable members of the Tilak family, including Dr. Deepak Tilak, Dr. Rohit Tilak, Dr. Geetali Tilak, Dr. Pranati Rohit Tilak, and Raunak Tilak, took part in the event.
Prestigious Fourth Shri Tulshibaug Ganpati’s Immersion
The fourth most revered Ganpati of Pune, Shri Tulshibaug Ganpati, was immersed in a similarly festive atmosphere. The procession, which started at 10:30 AM, saw the presence of notable officials, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol.
This year, the procession featured a 32-foot-high floral chariot designed in the style of the famous Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra. Due to restrictions caused by the metro bridge on Lakdi Pul, hydraulic technology was used to lower the height of the chariot.
The procession was adorned by the Sarapale Brothers, and the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra were carried on the chariot, which was pulled by the devotees themselves.
The Shivmudra beats, along with Nagara drum performances by the Lonkar Brothers, set a celebratory tone. Cultural displays, such as Malkhamb performances by Swarupvardhini, were also part of the festivities.
Prestigious Third Guruji Talim Ganpati’s Immersion
The third of Pune’s revered Ganpati idols, Guruji Talim Ganpati, was immersed at 6:44 PM in an exuberant atmosphere. The immersion took place after the immersion of Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati, the second of the prestigious idols.
The entire procession was filled with the chant of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, come back next year,” as devotees showered each other with gulal and danced to the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha.
Earlier, the prestigious first Ganpati, Shri Kasba Ganpati, was immersed at 4:35 PM, followed by Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati at 5:12 PM, with both immersions performed in traditional fashion at Pune’s Patanga ghat.