Shahale Mahotsav at Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple to ward off drought

Mahanaiveda was offered with 11,000 green coconuts as part of the famous Shahale Mahotsav at Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple. Mahanaiveda is held every year with the faith that drought and water scarcity would be solved by the grace of Ganaraya.

Pune (Maharashtra) : The Shahale Mahotsav was organized at Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple here when prayers were held for a healthy India, for the removal of farmers' problems and for the protection of all from the Vaishakh wildfires. Mahanaiveda was given with 11,000 coconuts on the occasion of Pushtipati Vinayak Jayanti.

The Mahotsav was organized by Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Public Ganpati Trust and Suvarnayug Tarun Mandal. It is found in our Puranas that Shri Ganesha has many incarnations in various leela forms in Patal, Prithvi and Swargaloka. One of them is the Pushtipati Vinayak avatar. This is the incarnation of the demon Durmati on the auspicious day of Vaishakh Shuddha Purnima at the house of Shiva and Parvati.

Puja, Ganesh Yag and Abhishek were performed in the temple on Friday. The prayer hall was beautifully decorated with flowers and trees. Early in the morning Padmashri Dr Sangeetha Shankar, Nandini Shankar and Ragini Shankar performed on violin. References to Pushtipati Vinayaka Avatar are found in the Sri Ganesh Purana and Mudgal Purana.

In this avatar, Pushti takes birth in the house of Lord Vishnu as his daughter and Lord Ganesha in Vinayaka form takes birth in the house of Shankar-Parvati. The demon Durmati conquers the earth-underworld-heaven and wreaks havoc everywhere. According to the boon given to Mother Parvati to kill him, Lord Ganesha appears in Vinayaka Avatar and kills the demon Durmati. Therefore Vaishakh is celebrated on the full moon day as Pushtipati Vinayaka Jayanti.

On the auspicious day of Vaishakh Purnima, Lord Ganesha was incarnated as Pushtipati Vinayak. Vaishakh Purnima holds an important place in Indian culture. The festival of Vaisakhi is specially celebrated on this day in North India. Countrymen should be protected from Vaishakh wildfires. Mahanaiveda of Shahalas is offered every year with the good intention that the problems of drought, and water scarcity of farmers should be solved by the grace of Ganaraya. Also, on the next day, the patients of Sassoon Hospital will be given prasad of shahalas.