Dagdushet Ganapati 2023

 

My stay in Pune would have been incomplete without a visit to a few prominent Ganapatis during the ongoing festival. Woke up at 4 am this morning and got ready to go for darshan. For over half an hour it seemed like it isn’t meant to be. No rickshaw or car was available on Uber at that hour. Started walking in the dark towards the hospital where my assistant was waiting. Daylight was beginning to break as I neared her place. Just as I drew close she was able to find a rickshaw. 

We made it to the famed Dagdushet Halwai Ganapati by 6:00 am. Both of us could do abhishek at the pandal. This year the decor was a grand replica of the new Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The rain god was benevolent and crowds manageable for most part. The resonance of Ganesh Atharvasheersha and Ganapati aarti in the early hours of morning was an experience that cannot be described in words. 

I returned home before 8 am completely recharged for another long day. 

Saree is a printed cotton silk chanderi, a gift of love from a dear friend.