Pune: Dhol tasha pathaks in Pune have started practicing their routine to welcome the bappa (Ganpati) on July 25. The famous percussion bands of the city play dhol (drum) to the five Manache Ganpati (revered Ganpati) including Shivmudra, Shivgarjana, Nadbrambha, Vighnaharta and Rudragarjana, and have their own special themes this year. The 10-day Ganesh festival will be celebrated from August 25.
There are 150 dhol tasha groups in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, that have been getting together for the famous Puneri Dhol welcome for the Ganesh festival since 1970.
Anup Sathaye, coordinator of Dhol Tasha Mahasangh Maharashtra, said, “Usually, the groups start their practice two months before the festival. But due to a decision made by the commissioner of Pune asking us to begin practice after July 25, the new members in the group may not get enough time to practice.”
Practice problems
Some groups have been affected due to National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) orders on the ban on playing loudspeakers and bursting firecrackers on DP Road, between Mhatre and Rajaram bridges, which was a regular venue for practice.
These groups are now not able to find a proper place or shed to practice.
Vijay Salunkhe, President of Shivgarjana Dhol Tasha group said, “Many groups have been shifted to areas like Bibvewadi and Bavdhan for practice.”
“We have taken permission from the police to practice at an under-construction site on DP Road. Since we don’t have a proper place to practice, participants are backing out. From 400, our group’s participants have reduced to 250,” Salunkhe said.
Woman power
With each passing year, there has been an increase in participation of the number of women in Dhol Tasha groups. Vighnaharta group has the maximum number of women.
Kailash Dhaygave, Working President, said, “There are 70 per cent women in our pathak from all over Pune. Traditionally, this was an activity in which only men participated, but not anymore. The ladies in our group are from the age of 7 years to 53, and for the last two years, we have successfully played at 45 events, in which women participated prominently.”