Pune: The second day of the Ganesh Utsav festival witnessed a spectacular event at the famous Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple in Pune. More than 35,000 women gathered in front of the temple and recited Ganpati Atharvashirsha, a Sanskrit text dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, and good fortune.
The event was organized by the Temple Trust as a part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, which last for 10 days. The Temple Trust also organizes various social and cultural programs during this period. The temple is visited by over a hundred thousand pilgrims every year, including celebrities and chief ministers of Maharashtra.
The temple has a rich history of over 100 years and was built by Shri Dagdusheth Halwai and his wife Lakshmibai, who were traders and sweet makers. They lost their only son in a plague epidemic and were advised by a sage to build a Ganesha temple. The temple is known for its simple construction and beautiful Ganesh idol, which is 2.2 meters tall and 1 meter wide. The idol is insured for a sum of ₹10 million (US$130,000).
