Hindu devotees from all walks of life participated in Ganesh Chaturthi processions at Tasgaon in Maharashtras Sangli District on Sunday.
Sangli (Maharashtra), Sept. 17 : Hindu devotees from all walks of life participated in Ganesh Chaturthi processions at Tasgaon in Maharashtra's Sangli District on Sunday.
The procession began from the Siddhivinayak Temple with pomp. Parashurambhu Patwardhan, the ruler of Pune in 1771 is said to have started this event.
"This is a 228-year-old tradition. This chariot festival is a symbol of communal harmony," said Rajendra Patwardhan, his descendent.
The day-and-a-half day event holds an important place in the hearts of devotees.
"I live in Delhi. I participate in this festival every year as I am a native of this place. If a person pulls this chariot, his or her wishes are fulfilled," said Dipak Patil.
The Tasgaon Festival chariot is three-storied, and its ropes pulled by hundreds of devotees.
For years, Ganesh Chaturthi was a personal or private affair, celebrated at homes. But at the turn of the century, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a fighter for freedom from British rule, converted it into a public event, using it as a platform for political propaganda.
The festival is hugely popular in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
ANI