Journalism of Courage
In the cultural capital of Maharashtra,where every corner boasts of the glorious history it has witnessed,conservation of heritage might mean conserving every temple,forts and the wadas in the city. One such temple of immense historical importance is the Kasba Ganpati Mandir. Renovated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Jijabai,the temple is all set to attain the status of a teerthkshetra. Thanks to the funds worth Rs 40 lakh allotted for the temple by the state government.
This is one of the oldest temples in the city. Contrary to the modern day renovations where the temples lose their olden-times charm and attain a contemporary look,we are planning to keep the look of the temple as-it-is and just touch up the weak and worn out areas. While the planning has already started,actual work is expected to begin in three months, says Shrikant Shete,president,Kasba Ganpati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.
The interiors of the temple that belong to the Peshwa era while the exteriors are of the Hemadpanthi style of architecture. Both these aspects have a great historical significance and are going to be kept intact even post renovation. The management plans to landscape the open spaces outside the temple, smiles Shete adding,Countless people come to the temple every day. I personally know so many of them for whom coming to the Kasba Ganpati mandir is the first thing they like to begin their day with. Not only that,even today,whenever there is a marriage or a house warming or for that matter a mangal karya,the first invitation is sent to the Kasba Ganpati. They say that every village has a Ganesh Mandir of its own,which is considered the deity of the place. Pune might have grown in multiple folds in the past few years,but Kasba still remains the nucleus,from where it all began and Kasba Ganpatithe deity of Pune.
While the status of teerthakshetra will not make much of difference to the native devotees,who have been already worshipping the deity,but it might make some difference for the tourists,who might feel drawn to see the temple because of its interresting history. Thus it might find a place in list of famous tourist destination. The funds allocated for the rennovation of the temple will also help in developing the surrounding areas to make it more accessible and appealing for the devotees.
