Pune: More than 35,000 women came together for the 41st annual mass Atharvashirsha chanting ceremony at the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple on Tuesday morning, marking Rishi Panchami during the 134th Ganeshotsav. The programme began at 6 am, with thousands chanting the Atharvashirsha in unison across the temple precinct and adjoining areas.
Despite rainy weather, women began arriving between 2 am and 4 am from different parts of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad as well as Mumbai, Satara, Kolhapur and Latur. The gathering spread across Saturday Peth, Laxmi Road, Belbag Chowk and Kotwal Chawdi, extending up to Nana Wada.
The ceremony was organised by the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Public Ganpati Trust and Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal. This year’s chanting took place in front of the replica of Prem Mandir created for the Trust’s 134th Ganeshotsav.
The programme began with Shankhnad, or the blowing of conch shells, accompanied by dhol-tasha beats. Collective prayers were offered for India’s progress, social harmony and world peace, followed by Omkar meditation and Ganesha devotional songs, including Ganraja Gananayaka and Morya Re Bappa Morya.
The main ceremony saw more than 35,000 women collectively reciting the Atharvashirsha mantras beginning with “Om Namaste Ganpatye”. The programme concluded with Maha Aarti and chants of “Morya Morya Dagdusheth Morya”.
Women dressed in traditional attire, including nauvari sarees, naths and other traditional jewellery, while many wore kumkum on their foreheads. The gathering included elderly women and young girls as well as IT professionals, doctors, lawyers and foreign visitors.
Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure and Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale were among those present. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Krushikesh Rawale was formally honoured during the programme.
Trust President Sunil Rasne, Treasurer Mahesh Suryavanshi, Shubhangi Bhalerao and Archana Bhalerao were present along with Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal members Saurabh Raykar, Yatish Rasne, Mangesh Suryavanshi, Rajabhau Ghodke, Sachin Akhade and Ankush Rasne. Archana Bhalerao and Prof. Dr. Gauri Kulkarni conducted the programme.
Nagpure said the collective chanting generated spiritual energy for Pune and described the city’s disciplined religious and cultural traditions as an inspiration for the world.
The annual tradition, which began with a gathering of a few hundred women, has grown over the years into an event drawing tens of thousands of participants. Now in its 41st year, the mass Atharvashirsha chanting continues to be held as part of the Rishi Panchami observances during the Dagdusheth Ganeshotsav.
