Pune, 14th September 2026: City is gearing up for the grand start of Ganeshotsav 2026, with preparations underway across the city. The eight prominent Ganpati mandals along with five Manache Ganapati will conduct their idol installation ceremonies today, following traditional processions through central Pune.
The processions will begin from the respective mandals and temples in the morning, with devotees expected to gather along the routes. The celebrations will include dhol-tasha performances, bands, palkhis and decorated chariots.
Kasba Ganpati: The procession will start at 8:15 am from the festival pavilion, with the idol carried in a silver palkhi. The installation will take place at 11:45 am, with 19-year-old Vedmurti Devvrat Rekhe performing the rituals.
Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati: The procession will begin at 10 am from Mandar Lodge on Kelkar Road and pass through Kunte Chowk, Nagarkar Talim Chowk and Appa Balwant Chowk. The installation is scheduled for 12:15 pm and will be performed by Yogi Niranjannath Guru Shantinath. The mandal has created a replica of the Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur as part of its decoration.
Guruji Talim Ganpati: The procession will leave the temple at 11 am on a flower-decorated chariot. The idol will be installed at 1:55 pm by Punit Balan and Janhavi Dharival-Balan.
Tulshibaug Ganpati: The procession will start at 9 am from the Ganpati Temple and pass through Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road and Appa Balwant Chowk. The installation will be held at 12:30 pm, with Swami Govinddev Giri performing the ceremony.
Kesariwada Ganpati: The traditional palkhi procession will begin at 9 am from Ramanbaug Chowk and pass through Shinde Par Chowk, Omkareshwar Temple, Vartak Udyan and N.C. Kelkar Road. The idol will be installed at 11:45 am by Raunak Rohit Tilak, while Vedmurti Kaustubh Khalikar will conduct the rituals.
Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati: The procession will begin at 8:15 am from Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Bhavan and move through Budhwar Chowk, Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, Appa Balwant Chowk and Bajirao Road. The installation is scheduled for 12:30 pm, with veteran flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia performing the ceremony.
Akhil Mandai Ganpati: The Sharda-Gajanan procession will begin at 10 am on a flower-decorated chariot and pass through Mandai Police Chowki, Rameshwar Chowk and Gotiram Bhaiya Chowk. The installation will take place at 12 noon, with Dr Vinay Thorat and Pratibha Thorat performing the ceremony.
Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati: The procession will start at 8:30 am from the Ganpati Temple on a flower-decorated peacock chariot. It will pass through Appa Balwant Chowk, Limbaraj Maharaj Chowk, Shanipar Chowk and Tilak Statue-Mandai. The Pran Pratishtha will be held at 11:11 am, with Shrihit Mohitmaral Goswami Maharaj of the Shri Radhavallabh Temple in Vrindavan performing the ceremony.
With thousands of devotees expected to attend the traditional processions, central Pune is likely to see large crowds along the established routes. The mandals are completing their final preparations for the processions and installation ceremonies.
This year's 12-day Ganeshotsav, following an increase in the tithi, is expected to add to the festive atmosphere across Pune.