Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati Mandal, Pune carries a rich tradition

Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati Mandal has the honour of the second most prestigious (Manache) Ganpati after Kasba Ganpati Mandal as Tambdi Jogeshwari is believed as gram daivat or village deity of Pune.

Tambdi Jogeshwari temple is one of the oldest temples in the city and the idol of the goddess is regarded as swayambhu (self born idol). The temple was built around the idol by Trimbak Bendre in 1545 AD.

In 1636, when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came to Pune with his mother Jijabai, he sought the blessings of the goddess and ploughed the land in front of the temple with a gold plough which signified a new beginning for Pune.

During the Peshwa era, more land was allotted to the temple and a bigger temple was constructed in 1705. History records reveal that Peshwas used to seek blessings from the goddess before embarking on a new mission.

Wives of Peshwa rulers were devotees of the goddess and on Dassera, a procession of goddess used to be carried out and the tradition still continues.

Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganesh Mandal has a unique tradition as most of the devotees participating in the procession are women and that tradition has continued from the Peshwa era. Even today, groups of women participate in the mandal’s procession where they perform stunts like sword fights and horse riding.

In 1893, when Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (public celebration of Ganesh festival), the first honour was given to Kasba Ganpati and the second honour was given to Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati mandal and that tradition still continues.

Vishwas Gadgil, executive president of Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganesh Mandal, said, “The first public celebration of Ganesh festival was started in 1893 and we are still continuing with this tradition.

Till 1930, people from nearby areas would come together and celebrate the festival for 10 days. However, after 1930, the mandal started celebrating the festival on a larger scale with famous singers performing during the festival.”

“Singers like Pandit Basavraj Rajguru, Sureshbabu Mane, Hirabai Badodekar, Saraswati Rane and Jyotsna Bhole have performed during the festival,” Gadgil said.

Unlike many Ganesh mandals in the city, the idol of Lord Ganesh of Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganesh Mandal is immersed every year and a new idol is made every year.

Gadgil said, “Gulunjkar family is making Ganesh idols for our mandal since 1893 and the idol is made from Shadu clay. This year, the fourth generation of Gulunjkar family has made the idol for our mandal.”

Till 2000, the Ganesh idol was kept in the temple, but as the number of devotees kept increasing, the mandal has started keeping the idol outside the temple during the festival.

Till 1983, the Ganesh idol used to be kept in a shrine made of brass but now the mandal has made a silver shrine. Gadgil said,
“We collected funds from various donors and we have made shrine of 58 kg of silver. The procession of Ganesh idol is also taken out in a palanquinmade of 12.5 kg of silver.”