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Journalism of Courage
Written by Rucha Kulkarni
Pune, December 13: The Kasba Ganpati temple will remain closed for devotees from Sunday night as the temple trust will begin work on the main idol. Situated in the heart of the Peth area, near Shaniwar Wada, the Kasba Ganpati is the presiding deity of Pune and is considered the first Manacha Ganpati, or most revered Ganpati.
Thakar said the ‘swayambhu’ or self-created idol has been covered with a thick layer of sindoor (vermillion) paste for centuries. Over time, the paste has started damaging the protective cover around the idol. The trust has, therefore, decided to carefully remove the sindoor. This, he said, has never been attempted in the 400 years of the temple’s recorded history.
He added that the process will give devotees a rare opportunity to see the original idol beneath the sindoor.
“This will also help preserve the idol for the future. The work will be done scientifically, and the religious sanctity of the procedure will be maintained,” Thakar said.
Thakar clarified that there will be no structural changes to the temple building. “None is needed. All the work will take place inside the sanctum sanctorum and will involve only the idol. Since the temple is a heritage structure, any change requires permission, and we do not intend to alter anything,” he said.
Asked if a fresh sindoor layer will be applied after the removal of the existing layers, he said the decision will depend on the condition of the idol once uncovered. “The trust will decide after examining the original structure of the idol,” Thakar said.
(Rucha Kulkarni is an intern with The Indian Express)
