Pune Festival: a delightful confluence of music, dance, drama, art, singing, instruments, sports and culture is celebrating its 35th year. It will be inaugurated on Friday, September 22nd at 4.30 pm at the hands of State Tourism Minister Hon. Girish Mahajan at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, Swargate, Pune. Industry Minister Hon. Uday Samant will precide over the function. Higher and Technical Education Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Hon. Chandrakant Patil will be the chief guest. Rajani Patil (MP), Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole, Shrirang Barne (MP) & Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Tourism Ministry Radhika Rastogi will be the guest of honor.
Pune festival’s patron, actress and danseuse Hema Malini (MP) will grace the inaugural function with a mesmerizing performance of Ganesh Vandana, followed by her captivating ‘Ganga’ ballet on the second day. She has presented her ballet or Ganesha Vandana or Shiva Stuti in the Pune Festival for 30 years. This year she will be felicitated at the opening ceremony for her great contribution.
The Pune Festival is organized jointly by the Pune Festival Committee, Puneite citizens, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Department of Tourism, Government of India. The entry for all events of the Pune Festival is free.
The achievers excelled from various fields in society are felicitated with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ during the Inauguration ceremony. This year, Renowned Orthopedic specialist Dr. K.H. Sancheti will be honored with this Award. The ‘Pune Festival’ award will be conferred on Sanjay Ghodawat of Sanjay Ghodawat group.
Every year the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in Pune celebrating their centenary year is felicitated at Inauguration function. This year ‘Khadak Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal’, Shukrawar Peth, Shri Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Vijay Mandal Trust, Somwar Peth, Pune and Sadashiv Peth Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Madal (Shri Shivaji Mandir) will be honored at the Inauguration Function.
Grand opening ceremony
As is the tradition, this year’s opening ceremony promises to be a spectacular affair. It will commence with the enchanting notes of the Shehnai, played by the talented Tukaram Daithankar, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and Aarti accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the Dhol Tasha. Renowned Hindustani Karnataki classical singer Nandini Gujar will grace the event with her rendition of Ganesh Stuti. Actress and danseuse Hema Malini (MP) will kick off the inaugural function by performing Ganesh Vandana along with co-artists.
This will be followed by Nitin Mahajan’s Keshav Shankhanad group of 40 members who will play conch together on stage.
40 boys and girls of different age groups from Maharashtra Mandal will perform ‘Artistic Yoga’. They will demonstrate Purna Ustrasana, Purna Vrischi Asana, Purna Dhanurasana, Gokhil Asana and Deembh asana. It has been organized by Pallavi Kavhane of Maharashtra Mandal Yoga class.
The dance drama ‘Sita’ will be performed based on the abduction of Sita, cruel behavior of Ravana, Sita’s devotion to her husband etc. Actress dancer Sukhada Khandkekar will play the role of Sita and will be supported by students of Om Dance Academy. It has been choreographed by Omkar Shinde.
Choreographer Vrinda Sathe will present a program called ‘Vitthal Vitthal’ by Varkari who dance and sing to the tune of Vitthal Vitthal Namghosh and Taal Mridunga. It includes 61 artists which is conceptualized and arranged by Karuna Patil.
The program ‘Kaleidoscope – Lavani Fusion’ features actresses Tejaswini Lonari, Sanskriti Balgude, Amrita Dhongde, Ayali Ghia, Rutuja Junnarkar, Bhargavi Chiramule and Rupali Bhosle. It is choreographed by veteran choreographer Nikita Moghe, Director of Payalvrund organization.
A musical program is organized in which Surmani Sania Patankar will perform patriotic songs in the background of the Amrut Mahotsav of Independence and will be accompanied by fellow artists of Prerna Music Organization.
A dance program ‘Golden Era of Dream Girl’ will be performed based on songs filmed on veteran actress and danseuse Hema Malini. Actors Urmila Kanetkar, Nupur Daithankar, Shweta Shewale, Mayuresh Pem along with fellow artistes of Nrutyatej Academy will participate in it. It has been conceptualized and choreographed by veteran choreographer Tejashree Adige, Director of Nrutyatej Academy.
Historical Empires of India,’ a riveting performance featuring actress-dancer Sharvari Jamenis, Ashay Kulkarni, and Kunal Phadke, dancing to historical film songs from ‘Ponniyin Selvan,’ ‘Jodha Akbar,’ ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ ‘Sher Shivraj,’ and ‘Manikarnika,’ conceptualized and composed by Swapnil Raste.
Manjiri Dhamankar in Marathi and Duriya Shipchandler in English are the compeer of the inauguration ceremony.
‘All India Mushaira’ – After the inaugural function at Shree Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch on 22nd September ‘All India Mushaira’ will be presented at 8.30 pm. In this, renowned poets of the country like Manzar Bhupali (Bhopal), Dr. Lata Haya (Mumbai), Anjum Barabanki (Lucknow), Abrar Kashif (Rajasthan), Sardar Salim (Hyderabad), Sagar Tripathi (Banaras), Dr. Kasim Imam (Mumbai), Farhan Dil (Malegaon) are participating in it. Imam Qasim (Mumbai) will moderate the Mushaira program and Iqbal Ansari (Pune) will moderate the entire program. This program will be presented by Dr. PA Inamdar, The Chancellor of Dr. PA Inamdar University and Mrs. Abeda Inamdar, President of Deccan Muslim Institute Pune.
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Kohinoor Group are the main sponsors of the 35th Pune Festival with Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Panchsheel, Suma Shilp Ltd. and National Egg Coordination Committee are co-sponsors. Bharat Forge, Kumar Realty, Ahura Builders, Sinhagad Institute and Badhekar group are the associate sponsors.
