Kasba Ganapati,Pune,Maharashtra

Kasba Ganapati

Temples in the city of Pune have always been the major attractions for people coming to Pune from all over the world. The temples in and around Pune have been the powerhouses for the theists. These temples have served as the centres of inspiration for many great warriors, kings, leaders and freedom fighters. A sense of sanctity and solemnity can be breathed in the surroundings of these temples.

The list of worship places in the city starts from the Kasba Ganpati temple. Kasba Ganesh is considered to be the presiding deity i.e. gramadevata of Pune. Devotees of Lord Ganesh believe that the idol of Ganesh in the Kasba Ganpati temple is the protector of the city and He protects all from all sorts of evils and dangers.

As per the historical references, the temple was constructed as per the instructions of Queen Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Dadoji Konddev, a loyal and faithful employee of Shahajiraje Bhonsale and Shivaji’s mentor reported to her that a beautiful Ganesh idol was found in Pune. It was much later in the nineteenth century when Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak imparted the status of premier god to Kasba Ganesh.

Tracing back the history of the Maratha Empire the references related to the construction of the temple could be traced. Queen Jijabai gave birth to Shivaji on the Shivneri Fort in the Junnar taluka in Pune.

She came to Pune along with little Shivaji and Dadoji Konddev in 1630. Shivaji was growing up as a sensitive human being thanks to the upbringing of mother Jijabai. Shivaji was disturbed to see the pathetic condition of Maharashtra smothered under the Mughal rule.

At an early age of just 12, Shivaji vowed to dedicate all his life for the liberation of the Maval Region from the tyrannical Mughal reign. Around this time itself, the idol of Lord Ganesh was found near the residence of Vinayak Thakar. Queen Jijabai took it as an auspicious omen and the blessings of the divine for Shivaji’s freedom struggle. Queen Jijabai ordered that a beautiful temple be built and the Ganesh idol be placed in the sanctum of the temple. Soon the order was put into practice and a big Ganesh temple was built which is known as the Kasba Ganesh Temple.

Later during the Peshwa reign, a few renovations took place in the temple. The Peshwas were the ardent devotees of Lord Ganesh and used to frequent the Kasba Ganesh Temple. The Peshwas celebrated the Ganesh festival with great zeal and fervor.

Where is it located?

The temple is located in the Kasba Peth area in Pune to be precise. The two famous historical monuments Shaniwar Wada and Lal Mahal stand at handshake distance from the temple. Reaching Kasba Ganesh Temple is not a big deal as you can hire an auto rickshaw from any part of the city and reach the place with ease.

Ganesh Festival Celebrations:

Initially the Ganesh festival was celebrated individually in Maharashtra and the neighboring states. It was in 1893 that Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak thought of giving it a public form and since then the public Ganesh Festival in India has been one of the grand celebrations in the country. Making private festival a public one was Tilak’s attempt of bringing people together and thereby giving the Indian freedom struggle a form of a systematic revolt against the British Rule.

As the time passed the nature of the festival went on chaining and then started the rivalry among the Ganesh Mandals in Pune over the issue of which Mandal should get the privilege of immersing the Ganesh idol into river water before all others. The rivalry turned into a great dispute and finally Tilak had to intervene. Tilak said that the Kasba Ganesh being the Premier God of the city should get the privilege in the Ganesh Immersion Procession.

In a nutshell, the Kasba Ganesh boasts to be one of the ancient shrines of Lord Ganesh in the city of Pune. The temple has got a rich legacy of history and the idol here was placed in the sanctum by young Shivaji in the year 1639. During the Ganesh Festival, oodles of people from all over the world come to Pune to see the Kasba Ganesh. On the final day of the Ganesh Festival, Kasba Ganesh gets the privilege in the immersion procession. The deity is rightly called the premier god of the town.

The temple is open from 6.00 A.M. to 9.00 P.M. every day.

The place is always crowded. But it is heavily crowded especially on Tuesdays and during the Ganesh Festival.

So whenever you come to the city of Pune, don’t forget to visit the Kasba Ganesh Temple.