Indian
cultural and social heritage and traditions are unique in the
sense that every Indian festival is celebrated with true
spirit and flavored with essence of real expression of eternal
pleasure and enthusiasm. After the end of scared Hindu month
dedicated to God Shiva, festive season of country starts with
Ganesh Festival. Lord Ganesh the son of Parvati, is worshiped
ahead of all Gods and Goddess. If we look at the word “Ganesh”
this is composed of two words “Gun” [qualities] and “esh”
[Lord] hence celebration of Ganesh festival is the occasion in
true sense is meant for being the master of the qualities.
During the British rule
Lokmanya Tilak suggested to celebrate Ganesh Festival as the
social celebration for creating consciousness for the desire
of independence. After freedom of country this trend is kept
in continuation for creating social awareness and Kolhapur
Ganesh is among the front runner on this front also.
If you look at the celebrations
related with Ganesh Festivals women are always kept at
secondary status as their part remains limited to drawing
Rangoli and participating in the chorus of Aarati.. Kolhapur
Ganesh is also known for setting new trends, this year women
from the Rajarampuri have established an all women Sarvajanik
Mandal and everything from establishment to decoration of
pandal every work is carried out by women only. Ganesh Idol
for the mandal is donated by a woman “Sou . Akkatai Bhopale”.
Various women workers of mandal including Sou. Sheetal Bhopale,
Sou Chhaya Khot, Sou Sangeeta Pardesi, Sou. Sujata Gavali, Sou
Vandana Varekar, Sou Sarita Kamble, and Sou Sulochana Pathare
etc. are working round the clock and believe that from next
year they will also able to present scenes like male dominated
sarvajanik mandal. As this is very first year of all women
mandal in the city so all are busy with the preparations for
the Visarjan procession, which surely going to be an added
attraction for Kolhapur Ganesh this year.
List of some other Sarvajanik
Ganesh Mandals from Rajarampuri area with title of their scene
goes like this:
2nd Lane: Rajarampuri Shivaji Tarun Mandal [Replica of
Chamundeshwari Temple]
3rd Lane: Ekta Mitra Mandal [Saibaba Aarati – Mechanical
scene]
Rajaram Sports [Swami Samarth Aarati]
4th Lane: Jai Maharashtra Tarun Mandal [Pandhari cha raja]
New Ganesh Mandal [“Shivrai Janam Sohila” Mechanical scene]
5th Lane: Vivekanand Mitara Mandal [“Game – the blast” live
scene based on Mumbai bomb explosions]
6th Lane: Jai Shivraj Tarun Mandal [Aarat of Kalimata –
Mechanical scene]
7th Lane: New Friends Circle [Titanic Boat – Mechanical scene]
8th Lane: Suvaran Jhankar Mitra Mandal [Hanuman bringing
Dronagiri Mountain – Mechanical scene]
11th Lane: Yuvak Mitra Mandal [Non
Conventional energy - Social awareness]
