Pune: The Punit Balan Group (PBG)-organised combined Dahi-Handi of 23 renowned Ganpati mandals will be celebrated without DJ music this year, with festivities featuring traditional instruments such as Dhol-Tasha, Prabhat Band, and Mumbai’s famous Worli beats. The announcement was made by PBG President and young entrepreneur Punit Balan.
The combined Dahi-Handi celebration was started last year at Lal Mahal Chowk on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road. Balan initiated the event to ease traffic congestion at major chowks in the city's heart and reduce the burden on the police department. In its first edition, 35 Ganesh mandals participated in response to his appeal. This year, in its second consecutive edition, the initiative will continue with the added decision to keep the Ganesh Festival free from deafening DJ music, ensuring the Dahi-Handi will be broken to the beats of traditional instruments.
The festivities are set to open with spirited performances from Yuva Vadya Pathak, Samarth Pathak, Ramanbaug, and Shivmudra Dhol-Tasha troupes, after which the Prabhat Band will present traditional melodies. Adding to the excitement, the renowned Banjo Worli Beats group from Mumbai will play while the Govindas build human pyramids to reach and break the Dahi-Handi. One of the key attractions of the event, according to Balan, will be the special Shiv Mahakal programme from Ujjain.
Participating mandals include Shrimant Peshwe Ganpati Mandir, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust, Shri Tambadi Jogeshwari Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust, Shri Tulshibaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust, Punyeshwar Mahadev Mandir Utsav Samiti, Shir Garud Ganpati (Laxmi Road), Uday Tarun Mandal (FC Road), Nagnath Par Sarvajanik Ganpati Mandal Trust, Munjaba Tarun Mandal (PMC), Fani Ali Talim Trust, Prakash Mitra Mandal, Bharat Mitra Mandal, Tvashta Kasar Samaj Sanstha, Azad Hind Mandal (JM Road), Shri Shivajinagar Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, Shri Hanuman Mandal Pratishthan, Janata Janardan Mandal Pratishthan, Janata Janardan Mandal, Krantiveer Rajguru Mitr Mandal, Ganesh Mitra Mandal (Alka Chowk), Bhoiraj Mitra Mandal, Shivtej Group, and Natraj Group.
