Ganeshotsav 2026: Maharashtra’s 480 public mandals to vie for Rs 1.5 crore in prizes, state eyes UNESCO recognition

All government departments in Maharashtra should undertake cultural social environmentfriendly and awareness programmes through their subordinate offices establishments and corporations to celebrate Ganeshotsav 2026 on a larger scale as the states lsquoState Festivalrsquo Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Ashish Shelar said on MondayThe state government has issued a Government Resolution directing departments to implement various initiatives across Maharashtra The programmes will seek to increase public participation in Ganeshotsav from villages to cities and promote the festival with the objective of securing a place for it on UNESCOs World Heritage List ndash lsquo rsquo hellip pictwittercomrhOaJmiiFkmdash Adv Ashish Shelar ShelarAshish August 17 2026A total of 480 outstanding public Ganeshotsav mandals across the state will receive prizes worth around Rs 15 crore at taluka district and state levels The prize distribution ceremony for state and districtlevel firstprize winners will be organised by the PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy while ceremonies for second and thirdprize winners at the taluka and district levels will be organised through the respective district collectoratesCultural programmes will be organised in all 36 districts of Maharashtra 10 states outside Maharashtra and one country outside India during Ganeshotsav Fiveday programmes will be held in New Delhi while Mumbai will host cultural programmes for eight days Public Ganeshotsav will also be promoted at national and international levels in collaboration with local organisationsAn independent portal will be developed to provide online darshan of major Ganesh temples and prominent public Ganeshotsav celebrations A digital platform will also be created to allow citizens to upload photographs of their household Ganeshotsav celebrationsInformation on the history and traditions of Ganeshotsav the Ashtavinayak temples ecofriendly celebrations and various government initiatives will be widely disseminated through the media and social media The logo of the lsquoState Festivalrsquo will also be displayed on the state governments websiteThe Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon will organise a Ganapatithemed reels competition at the divisional and state levels A Marathi film that effectively portrays traditions and practices associated with Ganeshotsav will also be honouredFocus on ecofriendly GaneshotsavThe state will undertake extensive awareness campaigns on shadu clay idols seed Ganpati idols collection and recycling of nirmalya plasticfree celebrations LED decorations and solarpowered pandalsGram panchayats municipal corporations municipalities and nagar panchayats will undertake cleanliness drives tree plantation and construction of artificial immersion ponds Awareness campaigns on water conservation will also be conducted to ensure that natural water sources are not adversely affected during the festivalInformation on durva grass flowers naivedya items and organic agricultural products will be promoted with the participation of local farmers Womenrsquos selfhelp groups and cooperative institutions will be encouraged to sell modaks prasad items and local productsPromotional initiatives will also be undertaken for micro small and medium enterprises and artisans involved in making Ganesh idols makhars decorations and puja materialsEntrepreneurship training workshops on clay idols makhars decorations and digital design will be organised for young people Schools will be encouraged to hold workshops on making Ganpati idols from clay along with essaywriting elocution and cultural activitiesColleges will be encouraged to organise seminars lectures and innovation exhibitions on lsquoGanesh and SciencersquoEngineering students will also be involved in creating innovative roboticsthemed tableaux and promoting awareness about ecofriendly decorationsHealth safety and inclusivity to be prioritisedFree health checkup camps blood donation drives and CPR training for emergency cardiac situations will be promoted at crowded locations The government has also directed authorities to arrange medical aid centres and volunteers conduct food safety inspections and undertake awareness campaigns against food adulterationFor devotees with disabilities emphasis will be placed on ramps wheelchairs signlanguage aarti touch darshan and accessible entry facilitiesAll district collectors have been directed to constitute taluka and districtlevel committees for the outstanding Ganeshotsav mandal competition The committees will inspect applications through physical visits undertake evaluation and complete the final selection processDistrict collectorates will also be responsible for coordinating illumination at key locations immersion processions and local programmes as well as publicity The Home Department has been directed to make arrangements for festival security while the Public Works Department will ensure safe immersion routes signboards barricading and pedestrian facilitiesThe Director of the PL Deshpande Maharashtra State Academy of Art Mumbai has been entrusted with coordinating various competitions The Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs has been appointed as the nodal officer for coordinating cultural programmes organised through ministries and government officesShelar directed the administrative departments concerned to issue necessary instructions and ensure the successful implementation of all activities planned as part of Ganeshotsav as the lsquoState Festivalrsquo