The Maharashtrian community in Hyderabad is celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesh with great enthusiasm. They are embracing their cultural roots by playing the traditional musical instrument, the Dhol Tasha. The members of the Maharashtrian Dhol Tasha Pathak are prepared to showcase their skills at various Ganesh pandals across the city.
There are around 80,000 Marathi families living in Hyderabad/Secunderabad, with the majority concentrated in areas like Shalibanda, Karwan, Gowliguda, Sultan Bazar, Kachiguda, Barkatpura, Meerpet, Hitech City, Manikonda, Gachibowli, Miyapur, Kompally, ECIL, and Uppal. The community continues to preserve their age-old traditions by welcoming Ganesh idols at the pandals. In recent years, they have also been promoting eco-friendly idols and organizing eco-conscious immersion ceremonies.
Anand Kulkarni, president of Maharashtra Mandal, explained that they have been celebrating Ganesh puja in Hyderabad for the past 74 years. They aim to keep their traditions alive and create a community where everyone can gather and celebrate together. They welcome Lord Ganesh with Dhol Tasha and Lezim, and their idol is always eco-friendly. On the last day of the celebration, they immerse the idol in an artificial pond on their campus at Ramkoti.
Ambarish Lahankar, founder of Mitraangan – Maharashtrian of Hyderabad, shared that the Dhol Tasha instrument is admired not only within their community but also by other puja pandal organizers. Their group, Maharashtrian Dhol Tasha Pathak, has been performing at various platforms to promote the vibrant part of Maharashtrian culture. They have also been performing in front of Khairatabad Ganesh for the past three years.
Captain Lele, a member of the Health League, mentioned that they have been celebrating in the traditional manner for the past 79 years. This year, their theme is dedicated to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, as it is a significant achievement for the country. They welcome Lord Ganesh with Pran Prathisthapana pooja and traditional Maharashtrian lexims and Marathi Dhol Tasha.
In summary, the Maharashtrian community in Hyderabad is celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with great fervor. They are embracing their cultural traditions and promoting eco-friendly practices. The Dhol Tasha instrument is being admired by all, and various pandal organizers have approached the Maharashtrian Dhol Tasha Pathak to perform at their events. The community is united in their celebrations and dedicated to keeping their traditions alive.
