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Ganeshotsav 2012: Akhil Mandai Mandal’s Ganesh idol has stood the test of time
Celebrating its 119th year, the mandal is witness to freedom struggle and progressive reforms associated with Pune.
Updated : Sep 29, 2012, 03:04 PM IST
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Akhil Mandai Mandal and its Sharada-Ganesh idol is one of the main attractions of Pune’s Ganesh festival. Celebrating its 119th year, the mandal is witness to freedom struggle and progressive reforms associated with the city. Mandai, the vegetable market in the old city that has a rich history spanning over 125 years of history, was dominated by a few families, including Kachi, Thorat, Mate, Ursal, Sanas, who initiated public celebrations of Ganesh festival and formed the Akhil Mandai Mandal.
The mandal’s Sharada-Ganesh idol that was installed 119 years ago is made of paper pulp and cloth pieces. An attempt was made to go for a new idol in 1948 and it was decided that the old idol should be immersed. However, heavy rains during the immersion procession foiled this decision as despite an umbrella cover the new idol was damaged and the clay of new idol dissolved in the downpour. This forced the mandal to immerse the new idol. Interestingly, the old idol, without any protection from the rains, was intact in the heavy rains. The hamals (porters) in mandai made another idol in plaster of Paris, a replica of the original Sharada- Ganesh idol. This new PoP idol was installed for the 10-day festival during the 1954 celebrations, but the pandal caught fire on the first day, forcing the mandal to install the original idol and carry on the tradition. Famous leaders of the Indian freedom struggle, including Lokmanya Tilak, used to visit Mandai Ganpati. The mandal witnessed memorable felicitation of freedom fighters released from jails in 1946, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Khan Abdul Gafarkhan and Sarojini Naidu.
Mandal’s president Anna Thorat said that Akhil Mandai Mandal started the Jhunka-Bhakar Centre in 1974 when one meal was provided at 50 Paise. He said that it also holds a free medical camp every year in December where medical tests worth Rs7,000-8,000 are provided free to residents and traders in the Mandai area.
