The Ganesh Festival lasts
11 days, from the fourth day of the bright half of the Lunar month (Bhadrapada) to the
fourteenth day of the same month (Anant Chaturdashi). On the first day, colorful idols of
Lord Ganesh in various sizes, some of them over 20 feet tall, are brought home or to a
public place with great fan-fare. The image is then installed ceremoniously and worshipped
for 10 days with great devotion and joy. On the last day, the idols are taken in huge
processions for immersion in the river or sea.
The Ganesh Festival is an
international event now. The people of Pune, Government of India and Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation have joined hands to make it a unique event.
In magnitude, the festival
is unparalleled, anywhere in the world. For 11 days the city of Pune resounds with the
celebrations of Ganesh Festival.
