PUNE: The first public Ganesh mandal in India, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, has been announced by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) as a heritage place. The Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati has been included in the heritage walk of the PMC.
Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari had conceptualised organising the Ganesh festival publicly to bring together people from all religions and castes and to ensure India’s freedom. In Pune, Rangari installed three Ganesh idols in 1892 and one of them was Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati. Pune-based young businessman Punit Balan is the current Festival Head and Trustee of the Ganpati Trust.
After his appointment as the festival head, various programmes are organised by the trust during the Ganesh festival. Devotees from India and abroad visit the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati. Despite this, the Ganesh temple was not in the list of heritage sites of the PMC. After Punit Balan followed up the matter with the civic body, the Rangari Ganpati has been declared as a heritage place. To allow tourists to visit famous historical sites and places, the PMC operates a ‘Heritage Walk’ programme and the Rangari Ganpati has been included as one of the places. Twelve historical places from central Pune are included in the Heritage Walk.
Rangari Bhavan is a tourist spot
The Rangari Bhavan, which was a home for freedom fighters, has a secret chamber, underground roads, weapons of the historical era, a box of East India company and a central locking system. After Punit Balan became the trustee, the Rangari Bhavan has been renovated by the ‘Indrani Balan Foundation.’ Hence, it has become a centre of attraction for tourists.
Punit Balan, Festival Head and Trustee of Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, said, “The Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati has made an important contribution to our freedom struggle. I am very happy as the Festival Head and a Ganesh devotee that the PMC has included this Ganpati in the list of heritage places. We will make sincere efforts to increase the grandeur of the festival through the trust.”
