Maharashtra minister Shelar asks govt departments to step up Ganeshotsav participation; Rs 10 crore for cultural events

“Ganeshotsav is no longer confined to Maharashtra. It is celebrated in 22 countries. This festival must connect people across religions, castes, and languages. Now that the state government is celebrating it for the first time, every government department must ensure its contribution,” he told officials.

The meeting was attended by senior officers from state and central departments, municipal bodies, and public sector undertakings. Shelar instructed the state and centre government departments to organise theatre, music, and cultural programs, awareness campaigns, and special lighting, while also ensuring extensive promotion of these initiatives on social media platforms.

The minister announced that the government has earmarked Rs 10 crore in prizes for cultural competitions to be held from the taluka to the state level during the 10-day festival. These contests, he said, would give a boost to local talent while ensuring greater community participation in the festivities.

A dedicated digital platform is also being developed to allow people from across the world to upload photos and videos of household and public Ganeshotsavs. The platform will carry live streaming of major mandals, bringing greater global visibility to the festival.

Shelar further said the government wants to use the festival as a platform to highlight themes such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s UNESCO-recognised forts, and Operation Sindoor. Under Operation Sindoor, ex-servicemen will be felicitated district-wise.

In addition, film festivals, essay writing, painting, and blogging contests will be organised to engage students and youth.

“By declaring Ganeshotsav a State Festival, Maharashtra’s cultural identity has been further enriched. Through people’s participation, digital outreach, international recognition, and eco-friendly initiatives, the festival will go beyond religion to become a cultural event that unites the world,” Shelar said.

Officials pointed out that Ganeshotsav, which began as a public festival in the late 19th century under Lokmanya Tilak, has long been used to mobilise communities, particularly in urban centres such as Mumbai and Pune, where Ganesh mandals play a central role. The move to formalise it as a State Festival, they added, signals the government’s intent to both preserve tradition and expand its global reach.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of civic body polls, expected in the coming months, where Ganesh mandals have historically wielded influence in mobilising voters at the neighbourhood level.

The decision of the state government to give the festival official status and earmark significant funds is being seen as politically significant in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, urban centres where the civic elections are expected to be fiercely contested.

Shelar also issued directives to officials to ensure that all potholes caused by the continuous rainfall over the last three to four days in Mumbai must be completely filled within the next three days, ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Speaking on the issue, Shelar said that potholes due to heavy rains have become a serious concern for residents of Mumbai.

“Action must be taken against illegal hawkers and unauthorised food vans. At locations where traffic signals are not functioning, measures must be taken to activate and operationalise them immediately,” Shelar further said.