Mumbai, July 10 -- The much-celebrated Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (public Ganesh festival), which is observed with great fervor across Maharashtra, will now be officially recognized as the state festival.
An official announcement to this effect will be made soon, said Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar while speaking in the state assembly today.
The assurance came in response to a request made by MLA Hemant Rasane, who raised the demand during the session. Shelar thanked Rasane for highlighting the issue and recalled the historical roots of the festival.
Lokmanya Tilak initiated the public celebration of Ganeshotsav in 1893, embedding it with values of nationalism, social unity, self-respect, and love for one's language and culture. ...