Pune: The Pune Festival marked the beginning of this year’s Ganeshotsav with a traditional ‘Mangalacharan’ ceremony at Alka Talkies Chowk on Saturday, featuring dhol-tasha beats, a large rangoli and a folk dance performance.The ceremony, organised near the statue of Senapati Bapat, also featured the unveiling of a rangoli depicting the Pune Festival emblem.Shivmudra Dhol Pathak heralded the arrival of Ganeshotsav with a performance, while Amar Lande of the National Kala Akademi Trust and his team created the elaborate rangoli. Dignitaries attending the programme also participated in playing the dhol and cymbals.Those present included MP Medha Kulkarni, mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Pune Festival president Krishnakumar Goyal, SPPU pro-vice-chancellor Parag Kalkar, general secretary Satish Desai and trustee Mohan Tillu. Presidents of the city’s five Manache Ganapati mandals — Shrikanth Shete of Shri Kasba Ganapati Mandal, Prasad Kulkarni of Shri Tambadi Jogeshwari Ganapati Mandal, Pravin Pardeshi of Guruji Talim Ganpati Mandal, Vikas Pawar of Shri Tulshibaug Ganapati Mandal and Rohit Tilak of Kesariwada Ganapati Mandal — were present.Mahesh Suryawanshi, president of Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Mandal; Anna Thorat, president of Sharada Gajanan Ganapati Akhil Mandai Mandal, and presidents and office-bearers of other prominent mandals were also present.Kulkarni, Nagpure, Goyal and Desai played ‘fugdi’ during the event, adding an element of fun to the ceremony.Speaking about the significance of the event, Goyal said Mangalacharan refers to prayers offered to a deity for welfare and auspiciousness at the beginning of an auspicious undertaking.The programme also included addresses by Kulkarni, Nagpure and Desai.
