Lt Gen Pushkar Visits Pune’s Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, Calls Experience Wonderful

Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, on Saturday visited the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati mandal in Pune and participated in the traditional aarti along with his wife.

During his visit, Lt Gen Pushkar witnessed the Ganeshotsav celebrations and interacted with the festive atmosphere at one of Pune’s prominent Ganpati mandals. He described the experience as memorable and said it was his first visit to the festival.

“It was a good experience to come here. Different festivals are celebrated at different places. It was wonderful to see the Ganpati festival here. I have come here for the first time,” he said.

The Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati is among the prominent Ganeshotsav mandals in Pune and is known for its elaborate celebrations during the annual festival. The mandal holds a significant place in the city’s long-standing Ganeshotsav tradition and attracts large numbers of devotees during the festival.

Pune is widely regarded as one of the major centres of public Ganesh celebrations in Maharashtra. During Ganeshotsav, several mandals across the city organise religious ceremonies, cultural programmes and other community activities.

The festival brings together devotees and visitors from different parts of the city and beyond, with prominent Ganpati idols becoming major attractions during the celebrations.

Lt Gen Pushkar’s visit came as devotees continued to participate in the festivities at various locations across Pune. His presence at the historic mandal also highlighted the participation of members of the armed forces in the city’s traditional public celebrations.

The Southern Command, headquartered in Pune, is one of the Indian Army’s major commands and has a significant military presence in Maharashtra and other parts of southern India.

The visit concluded with the traditional aarti, as devotees gathered at the mandal to participate in the religious celebrations and seek blessings.