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Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple

Coordinates: 18°30′59″N 73°51′22″E / 18.51639°N 73.85611°E / 18.51639; 73.85611
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Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictPune district
DeityGanesha
Governing bodyShreemant Dagadusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust
Location
LocationPune City
StateMaharashtra
CountryIndia
Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple is located in Maharashtra
Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple
Location in Maharashtra
Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple is located in India
Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple
Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates18°30′59″N 73°51′22″E / 18.51639°N 73.85611°E / 18.51639; 73.85611
Website
http://www.dagdushethganpati.com/

The Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati temple is a Hindu Temple located in Pune and is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. The temple is visited by over one hundred thousand pilgrims every year.[1][2] Devotees of the temple include celebrities and chief ministers of Maharashtra who visit during the annual ten-day Ganeshotsav festival.[3] The main Ganesh idol is insured for sum of ₹10 million (US$120,000).[4] It celebrated 132 years of its Ganapati festival in 2024.[5]

History

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Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai and his wife Laxmibai was a trader and sweet maker settled in Pune. His original halwai shop still exists under the name "Dagdusheth Halwai Sweets" near Datta Mandir in Pune. Eventually he became a successful sweet seller and a rich businessman. In the later 1800s, they lost their only son in a plague epidemic. They were approached by a compassionate sage who advised them to build a Ganesha temple in Pune.[6]

Later, as they did not have any heir, Dagdusheth adopted his nephew Govindsheth (born 1865) who was 9 years old at the time of their death. Govindsheth was born in 1891 in Pune. He replaced the first Ganesh idol by a new one, with the first one still being present at Akra Maruti Chowk. A kind-hearted and generous man, he established one more Ganesh idol in wrestlers training center, which is called Jagoba Dada Talim. This talim was owned by Dagdusheth as he was also a former wrestling trainer. One of the chowk (area) in Pune is named Govind Halwai Chowk, after him. Along with his mother, Govindsheth handled all the programmes like Ganesh Utsav, Datta Jayanti and other festivities. The residence where they resided is now known as Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Sansthan Datta Mandir Trust. Laxmi Road in Pune is named after Laxmibai Dagdusheth halwai. Govindsheth died in 1943. His son Dattatray Govindsheth Halwai, born in 1926, was the one who established the third Ganesh idol replacing the second. This idol, known as Navasacha Ganpati, is the one that is present today in the Dagdusheth temple. It proved to be an epoch-making event in Indian history.[7]

Temple

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The central icon of Ganesha

The temple is a beautiful construction and boasts a rich history of over 100 years. Jay and Vijay, the two sentinels made of marble catch the eye of all at the outset. The construction is so simple that all the proceedings in the temple along with the beautiful Ganesh idol can be seen even from outside. The Ganesh idol is 2.2 metres tall and 1 metre wide. It is adorned with nearly 40 kilos of gold. Daily pooja, abhisheka and the arti of Ganesh are worth attending. The lighting of the temple during the Ganesh festival is marvelous. Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust looks into the maintenance of the temple. The temple is situated in the centre of city, local shopping market is also the nearby temple. Various cultural activities like music concerts, bhajans, and Atharvasheersh recitation are organized by the trust.[8]

Shri Datta Mandir placed in Budhwar Peth, Pune was their residential Building. Dagduseth's grandson Govindseth was also famous for his kindness and generosity. In Pune, Govind Halwai Chowk is famous by his name.

He later established the Halwai Ganapati Trust.[1][3] Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during the British Raj, gave a public form to the Ganesh festival celebrations as a way of getting around an order that barred public meetings.[1]

Temple Trust

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The Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Trust carries out philanthropic work from the donations received, and is one of the richest in Maharashtra.[9] The trust operates an old age home called Pitashree at Kondhwa in Pune. The home was built at a cost of ₹15 million (US$180,000) and opened in May 2003.[10] In the same building the trust provides housing and education for 400 destitute children.[9] Other services provided by the trust include ambulance service for poor and health clinics in tribal belts of Pune District.[11]

Ganesh festival, Gudhi Padwa till Ram Navami are the festivals celebrated by Dagadusheth halwai Ganapati Trust, Pune.[citation needed]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Zore, Prasanna D (1997). "Pune's Dagedu Sheth Halwai dresses up for Ganeshotsva". Rediff. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  2. ^ Zelliot, Eleanor; Maxine Berntsen (1988). The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra. SUNY Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-88706-664-1.
  3. ^ a b Rabade, Parag (9 July 2007). "Pune leads the community". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Ganesh clears obstacles for women reciting Atharvasheersha". Hindustan Times. 4 September 2008. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Dagdusheth Ganpati". Archived from the original on 25 November 2002.
  6. ^ Sengar, Resham (4 September 2019). "125 years ago, a halwai made this famous Ganpati temple in Pune". Times of India. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  7. ^ Rashid, Atikh (4 September 2022). "Know Your City: Dagadusheth Halwai, the wrestler-trader behind Pune's most popular Ganpati temple". Indian Express. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir in Pune". www.punesite.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ a b Damle, Manjiri (6 July 2006). "Topper has 'mandal' effect to thank for". Times of India. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  10. ^ "CM to inaugurate charitable old-age home on Sunday". Times of India. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Social activities". Dagadusheth Ganapati Trust. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
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