R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, SEPT 24
To cash in on the popularity of Ganesh Festival, The Maharashtra government’s tourism department has kickstarted the first International Ganesh Festival on September 18 and will conclude on September 28. The event showcases the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra through the celebration of the Ganesh festival, one of the most popular festivals in the state.
The eleven-day international festival coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi. The event covers four cities in Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune, Palghar, and Ratnagiri — with each one offering a unique and memorable experience to tourists participating in the programme.
- Maharashtra Tourism Department Chief Officer Preethi has invited tour operators from all over India to familiarise them on the significance of the International Ganesh Festival 2023
- The event of Muslim youths performing puja in Ganesha temples is mesmerizing: P Ashok Kumar -Director, & ADTOI Secretary- Tamil Nadu Chapter
- The event covers four cities in Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune, Palghar, and Ratnagiri — with each one offering a unique and memorable experience to tourists participating in the programme
The rationale behind this project is to promote and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra, using the International Ganesh Festival as the main event to attract global attention.
The state government has declared five-day holiday for schools and colleges and all religions celebrate the message of Ganesh together regardless of caste and religion.
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This year, on behalf of the Maharashtra Tourism Department, Chief Officer Preethi has invited tour operators from all over India to familiarise them on the significance of the International Ganesh Festival 2023. Travel agents from all over India, including two each from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have participated.
They were welcomed in traditional way amidst the chanting of “Ganapati Baba Moriah Mangala Murthy Moriah Bhakti Karakosham all over Mumbai.”
Speaking with navjeevanexpress.com, P Ashok kumar -Director, & ADTOI Secretary- Tamil Nadu Chapter and Maanas Sarover Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd, said, ”Ganesha Festival is being organized in Mumbai on a grand scale. We got a chance to participate in the first 5-day events. Every house celebrates this event as a national event regardless of caste and creed. The event of Muslim youths performing puja in Ganesha temples is mesmerizing, rich and poor, everyone places non-polluting idols of Ganesha in residential areas, do special pujas to them and then mix them in the sea. Thousands of workers are engaged in the fishing industry. It was great that people from different states thronged Mumbai in large numbers to see these piety and gaiety competing with each other.
He said that the central and state governments are engaged in various activities to promote the tourism sector in India, in which the International Ganesha Festival has been coordinated very well on behalf of the Maharashtra tourism sector.
DAY 1
Sativali temple
This hot spring is protected from human activity by constructing a concrete tank. There are three large and three small tanks opposite the temple.
The Dhekale dam and Dhekale water fall, situated at Dhekale village in Palghar district are wonders of Mother Nature and well protected with all environmental norms to maintain the divine purity.
DAY 2
AAMCHI MUMBAI
The Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir (temple) dedicated to Ganesha is located in Prabhadevi neighbourhood of Mumbai. It was originally built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil on 19 November 1801. It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Mumbai. With the Blessings of Revered H.H. Shrimad Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji, GSB Seva Mandal started Shree Ganeshotsav in the year 1955. It was only a 14 inch idol to begin with. From that time onwards our Mandal started prospering.
Tour operators had the privilege of VIP darshan and invoked Lord Ganesha for the well-being of all.
Ganesh Galli is located only a couple of lanes away from the Lalbaugha Raja. The Mandal was formed for the benefit of the mill workers in the year 1928. It is one of the oldest and most popular pandals in India.
The Girgaon beach, which is also popularly called as Girgaon Chowpatty witnesses Ganesh Visarjan in all its beauty and grandeur in Mumbai. Thousands of Ganesh idols, big and small, from homes, housing societies, and sarvajanik pandals make their way to the Girgaon Chowpatty for the immersion of Lord Ganesha on the last day of 11-day festival.
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