India, Aug. 30 -- I n a striking display of devotion, more than 35,000 women gathered outside the iconic Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple in Pune on Thursday to chant the Ganapati Atharvasirsha. The temple, which is celebrating its 133rd year, witnessed the massive congregation as part of its annual tradition. Dressed in traditional attire, the women filled the entire stretch leading up to the temple, reciting the Upanishadic text dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The event, now in its 40th year, began at midnight with the ceremonial blowing of the conch shell. Marking Ganesh Chaturthi, the temple also introduced a South Indian influence in its decoration this year by recreating the facade of Kerala's famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, often described as the richest temple in the world. The elaborate pandal features nearly 500 sculpted deities and sages created especially for the festival. "Over 400 artisans from Maharashtra are shaping every carving and detail," Mahesh Suryavanshi, treasurer of the temple trust, told The Indian Express. HTC...