Ganeshotsav Granted the Status of State Festival
Pune, September 2026 : Pune is the birthplace of learning, culture and historical heritage. The enthusiastic response from Punekars to the three-day cultural festival has highlighted the city’s rich cultural heritage. Next year, this cultural festival will be developed as the ‘Pune Festival’ and made the number one festival in the state, said Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar.
Shelar was speaking at a cultural programme organised at the historic Shaniwar Wada premises by the Cultural Affairs Department to mark the granting of state festival status to Ganeshotsav. MLAs Hemant Rasane, Rajesh Pandey and Shripad Ashtekar, artist Atharva Sudhame and officials from the Cultural Affairs Department were present on the occasion.
Shelar said the scale of Ganeshotsav is vast, owing to public participation, social and national awareness initiatives, cultural programmes, large gatherings of devotees, artistic displays and long-standing traditions. It is difficult to find another festival anywhere in the world with such a comprehensive character, he said.
MLA Hemant Rasane had demanded that Ganeshotsav be granted the status of a state festival. Following the directions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a historic decision was taken on the floor of the Legislative Assembly to accord Ganeshotsav the status of a state festival, Shelar said.
He appealed to citizens to share their household and public Ganeshotsav traditions, cultural programmes, stories and memories on the bappa.org platform. He said the initiative would help take the cultural tradition of Ganeshotsav to audiences across the world while also creating the cultural documentation required for seeking UNESCO recognition for the festival as an intangible cultural heritage.
MLA Hemant Rasane said he was grateful to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on behalf of Punekars, devotees and Ganeshotsav activists for the decision to accord Ganeshotsav the status of a state festival. He said Shelar had responded positively and immediately to the demand.
Rasane congratulated Shelar for organising the three-day cultural festival at the historic Shaniwar Wada premises on behalf of the state government. He described Pune as the birthplace of learning and the cultural capital of Maharashtra.
An effort is also underway through the bappa.org web app to bring together the culture, traditions and art associated with Ganeshotsav. Shripad Ashtekar appealed to citizens to document their Ganeshotsav stories, memories and artistic expressions on the platform.
Minister Shelar also congratulated the artists who performed in the ‘Folk Lok’ programme. A large number of citizens and Ganesh devotees attended the event.
