30 September,2026 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Chief Minister launched the platform at an event held at The Asiatic Society in south Mumbai. Pic/X
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday launched a digital platform to document and showcase stories, traditions and cultural practices associated with the Ganesh festival, with the state government seeking to take the annual celebration to a global audience and work towards its recognition as cultural heritage.
The platform, bappa.org, is expected to feature stories about Ganesh idols, celebrations and traditions from around 40,000 villages across Maharashtra, Fadnavis said.
The Chief Minister launched the platform at an event held at The Asiatic Society in south Mumbai. He inaugurated the initiative by uploading the story of the Ganesh festival celebrated at his residence.
Fadnavis said the platform would bring together accounts of Ganesh festivals celebrated in villages and communities across Maharashtra, along with stories reflecting the different ways in which the festival is observed.
The website is also expected to feature accounts of Ganesh worship from different parts of India and other countries, experiences shared by devotees and stories documenting how traditions and forms of devotion have changed over time.
The Chief Minister said the initiative would highlight the social interaction, unity, enthusiasm and energy associated with Ganeshotsav and present its cultural significance to audiences beyond Maharashtra and India.
He also pointed to the presence of Ganesh worship in several Asian countries, including Japan, where temples dedicated to the deity exist.
During the event, Fadnavis flagged off the 'Bappa Rath', a cultural tableau designed to travel to different locations and highlight stories and traditions associated with Ganeshotsav.
The tableau features a 12-foot-high modak sculpture created by students and sculptors from Sir J J School of Art. The traditional sweet is associated with Lord Ganesh and is widely offered during the festival.
Fadnavis said the travelling initiative would help bring attention to the diverse cultural practices linked to Ganeshotsav and provide a physical extension of the stories being documented through the digital platform.
The initiative is intended to bring together accounts of both traditional and contemporary celebrations and highlight the different ways in which communities observe the festival.
The digital initiative also has a cultural heritage objective, with the state government seeking to draw the attention of UNESCO to Maharashtra's Ganeshotsav traditions.
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said bappa.org would bring together stories from household and public Ganesh festivals and provide a common platform to document their traditions, practices, beliefs and distinctive narratives.
Shelar said the initiative would also seek UNESCO's attention to Maharashtra's Ganeshotsav traditions and work towards their recognition as cultural heritage.
The platform is expected to provide a digital record of the festival's social and cultural dimensions, including the relationship between devotees and the festival and the ways in which celebrations differ across communities and regions.
The event also included a contribution to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Entrepreneur Shripad Ashtekar handed over a cheque for Rs 51 lakh to Fadnavis during the programme.
The state Cultural Affairs Department and eFlag Corp Pvt Ltd, founded by Ashtekar, also signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of the Chief Minister.
(With inputs from PTI)
