Ganeshotsav 2012: Mythological decoration is Tulshibaug mandal's hallmark

Shri Tulshibaug Sarvajanik Ganpati Utsav Mandal has the rare distinction of having a famous sculptor in DS Khatavkar as its president who is involved in mandal’s decoration for almost six decades. The mandal started in 1901 has another distinction of installing first fibre idol in the country in 1975.

Even though Tulshibaug, which is a busy market, has history of around 80 to 100 years, the Tulshibaug Ram Temple has a history of 250 years. “Soon after Panipat debacle of Peshwa rulers in 1961, the Ram Temple was built and later, till 1940’s, any dispute especially, religious or social, used to get resolved after a debate at Tulshibaug Ram Temple,’’ said history researcher Mandar Lawate.

Lokmanya Tilak, the father of Indian unrest against the colonial British rule, started public celebration of Ganesh Festival and inspired setting up of various mandals. He chose Tulshibaug as one of the places to celebrate the Ganesh festival and the mandal was formed in 1901.

Haribhau Kavre, Vamanrao Tamhankar and Haribhau Shete played a pivotal role in setting up the mandal. Dattatray Sridhar alias DS Khatavkar is the president of the mandal since many years. He is a famous sculptor and he started the practise of attractive decorations based on mythological incidents. The first mythological decoration in 1952 showed Lord Ram and Laxman crossing Sharayu river in a small boat. Since then, the mandal is famous for such mythological decorations.

The mandal today has 14-feet tall Ganesh idol made of fibre which attracts many devotees. In 1975, the mandal created a 7-feet fibre idol in 1975 when it celebrated the 75th year and it was first fibre Ganesh idol in the country, said the next generation sculptor Vivek Khatavkar. Vivek has carried forward the tradition of his father and in addition to working with Tulshibaug Mandal, he is also involved in decorations of famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati mandal.

Prataprao alias Tatyasaheb Godse, who was instrumental in taking Dagdusheth mandal to great heights, had acted in plays performed before Tulshibaug Mandal in his young age as an amateur actor.

The legendary Balgandharva, Master Deenanath, composer Vasantrao Desai and Jaimala Shiledar before her marriage have performed before Tulshibaug Ganpati.

The mandal, through donations by devotees, has silver ornaments for the idol weighing roughly 80 kg. The mandal, since last four years, celebrates Dahi Handi during Lord Krishna’s birth festival with a social cause. It donates foodgrains or books to the needy and all activists of the mandal save money and donate it to orphanages, said Khatavkar.