Ganeshotsav is celebrated with much fervour across the country, but this city in Maharashtra has a special connection. It’s not only the birthplace of the community celebrations that we now associate with the festival, but also a treasure trove of historical anecdotes and traditions that have shaped this cultural phenomenon over the years.

Pune, the city that initiated the ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav’ — large-scale public celebrations of the Ganesh festival — originally did so to unite people in the fight against the British regime. As a hub for freedom fighters and social activists, Pune maintained social reform as a central theme of the festivities, with mandals actively engaging in social work and conveying social messages through public pandals. But does this traditional spirit of social consciousness still resonate in Pune's Ganeshotsav celebrations today?