Pune, April 18: On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati was offered a grand offering of 11,000 mangoes on Sunday. Devotees gathered in large numbers at the temple since early morning for darshan.
The offering was part of a special mango festival organised by the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust. The mangoes were offered to Lord Ganesha by Mandar Desai and family, directors of Desai Bandhu Ambe Wale, a prominent mango trading enterprise.
Religious rituals at the temple began at 3 am with the Brahmanaspati Sukta Abhishek, followed by a musical offering by singer Manjusha Patil. A Ganesh Yaag (Ganesh Yaag is a sacred Vedic ritual dedicated to Lord Ganesha) was performed at 8 am as part of the day’s ceremonies. A large number of priests, trust officials and devotees were present in this entire religious ceremony. The entire program concluded with traditional rituals, chanting of mantras and devotion.
The temple trust stated that the mango prasad will be distributed among patients at Sassoon Hospital, children at Shrivatsa, as well as residents of old-age homes and institutions for specially-abled children. It will also be shared with devotees visiting the temple.
The mangoes offered as part of the Grand Offering will not remain limited to the deity but will be distributed as prasad under social initiatives to various sections in need. The prasad will be given to patients at Sassoon Hospital, children at Shrivatsa, residents of old-age homes, and institutions for specially-abled children. It will also be made available to devotees visiting the temple for darshan.