Pune’s Pu La Deshpande Garden Marks 20 Years, Okayama Delegation Visits to Renew Friendship Ties
Pune, 7 January 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) marked the completion of two decades of the iconic Pu La Deshpande Garden, also known as the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden, with a special visit by a delegation from Okayama, Japan, on Tuesday morning.
The delegation visited the garden at 10 am as part of the anniversary celebrations. Later, a courtesy meeting was held in the chamber of Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Navalkishor Ram, where he welcomed all representatives from the Okayama delegation by presenting mementos.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (General) Pavneet Kaur, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Special) Omprakash Divte, City Secretary Yogita Bhosale, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Ashok Ghorpade, and Association of Friends of Japan President Sameer Khale were present during the interaction.
The event at the garden was also held in the presence of Pavneet Kaur. Representatives from the Okayama delegation, members of the Association of Friends of Japan, officials and staff of the Pune Municipal Corporation joined the celebration.
A cake-cutting ceremony was held inside the garden to mark the 20-year milestone of the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden, symbolising the long-standing cultural bond between the two cities.
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Vineet Gupta is the Founder and Managing Editor of PuneNow, where he oversees local news delivery and explores mindful living, parenting, and personal growth. An alumnus of the University of Wales, Vineet has travelled extensively and worked across hospitality, finance, and academia. Now based in Pune, his diverse global background informs his hyper-local perspective, helping the community find meaning, balance, and connection in everyday life.
