'Sarvajanik Ganehotsav' announced as ‘State Festival of Maharashtra', confirms Ashish Shelar
Ashish Shelar made the announcement in the legislative assembly and said, as quoted by PTI, "Ganeshotsav is not just a celebration. It is a symbol of Maharashtra's cultural pride and identity.'
With the announcement, the state government asserted that it was committed to preserving and promoting the cultural legacy of the festival.
Earlier in 1893, Lokmanya (Bal Gangadhar) Tilak started the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (public celebration of Ganesh festival) in Maharashtra.
"The very essence of this festival is rooted in social unity, nationalism, the spirit of freedom, self-respect, and pride in our language,' he said.
Shelar said, 'While some individuals attempted to hinder this age-old public tradition by raising various court petitions, trying to obstruct the celebrations, the Mahayuti government acted swiftly and decisively removed all such hurdles.'
Elaborating on more balanced view, Shelar said that their government have approached the issue of imposed curbs on POP (Plaster of Paris) idols with more balanced view. The previous government had imposed curbs on POP (Plaster of Paris) idols, citing guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) but without offering practical alternatives.
'We initiated a comprehensive study to explore eco-friendly alternatives and assess whether POP is truly harmful to the environment. We commissioned an in-depth study by the Kakodkar Committee through the Rajiv Gandhi Science Commission."
'Union Minister Bhupender Yadav approved the findings, and the earlier restrictions were lifted. As per the court's ruling, the making, displaying and selling of POP idols are now permitted,' he said.
The minister declared that the Maharashtra government will bear the required expenses related to police security, infrastructure needs, or financial support for grand celebrations in cities like Pune, Mumbai, and across the state.
'Celebrating Ganeshotsav with full enthusiasm is not just a tradition but a core belief of the Mahayuti government. I appeal to all Ganpati Mandals to incorporate themes in their festivities that honour our armed forces, showcase social initiatives, 'Operation Sindoor', highlight the nation's developmental achievements and pay tributes to our great leaders in their decorative displays,' Shelar said.
This year, the 10-day Ganpati festival will begin on August 27.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
PM Modi ‘deeply honoured' to attend Maldives' Independence day event: ‘Productive talks with President Muizzu will…'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives, along with members of his delegation. The event was organised at the Republic Square in Male, where President Mohamed Muizzu and several ministers of the country welcomed PM Modi as the Guest of Honour. After attending the event, PM Modi expressed on X that he was 'deeply honoured' to have witnessed the celebrations. 'The productive talks with President Muizzu will add significant energy to our bilateral relations,' the post read. In another post, he also said that the relationship between the two countries continues to grow and that it is shaped by people-to-people ties and cooperation in various sectors. 'India remains committed to supporting the aspirations of the Maldivian people and to working together for the betterment of our planet,' he added. During the 5-minute event, PM Modi was seen sitting next to Muizzu. The event featured a military parade and cultural performances by children and other artists. The top political and military brass of the Maldives were also present at the event. Members of PM Modi's delegation, including external affairs minister S Jaishankar and foreign secretary Vikram Misri, attended the event too, PTI reported. PM Modi's visit to the island nation marks a significant step towards improving the India-Maldives relations after a brief period of tension as Mohamed Muizzu, known for his 'pro-China' leanings, came to power while running an 'India Out' campaign. He adopted a policy aimed at strengthening relations with China and in a way reducing dependence on India, Mint reported earlier. However, in recent years, bilateral ties have been reset through what experts call a pragmatic approach. Muizzu visited India in October last year, and now PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Maldives. 'The Maldives will not do anything that would harm India's security interests. We value India's role as a close neighbour and friend,' President Muizzu said during the visit, marking a sharp departure from his earlier 'India-Out' campaign.
News18
37 minutes ago
- News18
Arunachal guv attends Kargil Vijay Diwas event in Namsai
Itanagar, Jul 26 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Governor KT Parnaik on Saturday said Kargil Vijay Diwas is not just about remembering a military triumph, but a call to live each day with honour and commitment to the nation. Participating in the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations in Namsai, he urged everyone to prove themselves worthy of the freedom that the soldiers laid down their lives to protect. The governor laid a wreath and paid floral tribute to the indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts of the Indian armed forces during the Kargil War, an official statement from Raj Bhavan said. The Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on July 26 every year to mark India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 war. Paying glowing tributes to the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of the fallen heroes, Parnaik recalled the bravery of young soldiers who faced harsh conditions with extraordinary resolve. 'Their legacy is not just written in history books but etched in the soul of the nation," he said. The governor also emphasised the war's lasting contributions to national security, including enhanced border vigilance, modernisation of defence capabilities, and strengthened civil-military coordination. Praising the Assam Rifles and Arunachal University of Studies for organising the programme, he termed it a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to uphold the ideals of unity, patriotism, and national service. The governor appealed to citizens, especially the youth to draw inspiration from Kargil and contribute to the nation with pride and purpose. He also stressed that the youth must be educated, disciplined, and motivated to be self-reliant and competent to lead the nation in Viksit Bharat@2047. On the occasion, Kargil War veterans Naik Digendra Singh and Naik Prahlad Singh shared their experiences. PTI CORR MNB (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 21:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Malaise' has plagued PMs apprenticeship scheme: Congress
New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday alleged that 'malaise" has plagued the PM's apprenticeship scheme, claiming that the hallmark of the Modi government has been to make grand announcements with 'zero" follow through. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, cited a media report that claimed a decline in offers and acceptance rate in the PM Internship Scheme. 'We had previously flagged that the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) – inspired by Congress' 2024 Lok Sabha campaign guarantee of 'Pehli Naukri Pakki', a year-long apprenticeship for all graduates and diploma-bearers – is being botched by a government with no administrative talent," Ramesh alleged in a post on X. In May, Ramesh claimed that Modi government's flagship PMIS launched in October 2024 was off to a 'stuttering start" with a low turnout and high attrition. 'It now emerges that the same malaise continues to plague this scheme many months on – 1.18 lakh internship opportunities were opened through PMIS in round two, but only 71,458 offers were made. This is a drop of 13 per cent compared to round one when 82,077 roles were on offer," Ramesh claimed. Till July 17, he further claimed, just 22,584 of the 71,458 offers were accepted by the candidates – less than the 28,000 students who accepted the internship in round one. 'In round one, only 8,725 (7 per cent) of the 28,000 students who accepted the internship offers actually joined the company they were placed at. We are yet to find out how many joined the internship in this round," Ramesh said. 'The funds allocated under this scheme remain constantly under-utilised and the internships actually completed under this programme are minimal – a far cry from the government's stated goal of 1 crore internships in the next five years," the Congress leader added. Ramesh also claimed that the UPA government launched and successfully implemented some of the most complex and elaborate government programmes in the world – the MGNREGA, the Food Security Bill, and Right to Education. 'This government's hallmark has been to make grand announcements with zero follow through – simply because it runs on the whims and fancies of one man," he alleged. PTI SKC ARI view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 21:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
