Devendra Fadnavis launches digital platform to showcase Ganeshotsav traditions, seeks world heritage tag

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 heritageThe platform bappaorg is expected to feature stories about Ganesh idols celebrations and traditions from around 40000 villages across Maharashtra Fadnavis saidThe 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 residencePlatform to feature traditions from MaharashtraFadnavis 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 observedThe 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 timeThe 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 IndiaHe also pointed to the presence of Ganesh worship in several Asian countries including Japan where temples dedicated to the deity existBappa Rath launched to highlight cultural traditionsDuring the event Fadnavis flagged off the Bappa Rath a cultural tableau designed to travel to different locations and highlight stories and traditions associated with GaneshotsavThe tableau features a 12foothigh 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 festivalFadnavis 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 platformThe initiative is intended to bring together accounts of both traditional and contemporary celebrations and highlight the different ways in which communities observe the festivalGovernment seeks UNESCO recognitionThe digital initiative also has a cultural heritage objective with the state government seeking to draw the attention of UNESCO to Maharashtras Ganeshotsav traditionsCultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said bappaorg would bring together stories from household and public Ganesh festivals and provide a common platform to document their traditions practices beliefs and distinctive narrativesShelar said the initiative would also seek UNESCOs attention to Maharashtras Ganeshotsav traditions and work towards their recognition as cultural heritageThe platform is expected to provide a digital record of the festivals social and cultural dimensions including the relationship between devotees and the festival and the ways in which celebrations differ across communities and regionsRelief fund receives Rs 51 lakh donationThe event also included a contribution to the Chief Ministers Relief FundEntrepreneur Shripad Ashtekar handed over a cheque for Rs 51 lakh to Fadnavis during the programmeThe state Cultural Affairs Department and eFlag Corp Pvt Ltd founded by Ashtekar also signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of the Chief MinisterWith inputs from PTI