As called the Cultural Capital of Maharashta, Pune
has a proud calendar comprising of a number of festivals
and cultural activities ranging from Classical Music
to Rock Concerts. What Pune is most known for, is
the Pune Festival, which is held during the Ganesha
Mahotsav.
With
political bigwigs and celebrities patronising
it, the Pune Festival
has popularised itself immensely over the
past few years.
The Ganesh Mahotsav initiated by Tilak, today is
celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors
almost remain blocked for ten days. Pune has more
than 2000 mandals with Dagdusheth Halwai, the
biggest and the most famous one.
Sawai Gandharva,
which started way back in 1960s, has had
every Indian and international artist perform
and has given rise to a number of budding
ones too. It is held
in the months of December from dawn to
dusk over three days.
The Osho festivalis another international crowd puller in Pune.
Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples
and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point
to attend.
The Chaturshringi fair,
held annually during Navratri on Senapati
Bapat Road, is held overnight with giant-wheels
and other attractions. A number of College festivals,
have become very commercialised, but still attract
big crowds and a very high degree of competition
from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by
Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate
festival in India. So, all year round, there seems
to be enough excitement to keep Puneites on their
toes!
