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By:

Ruddhi Phadke

22 September 2024 at 10:17:54 am

Gudhi Padwa draws world to Girgaum

Mumbai: It was the 24 th  celebration of Gudhi Padwa in Girgaum on Thursday, and as usual, the festivities were grand, picturesque and saw humongous response not just from the local residents. This year, the celebration saw huge participation of enthusiasts from beyond the borders. While some coincidentally bumped into the event, some others actually typed ‘Gudhi Padwa 2026 schedule’ in their google search bar to ensure they did not miss this ‘must do’ event while planning their holiday...

Gudhi Padwa draws world to Girgaum

Mumbai: It was the 24 th  celebration of Gudhi Padwa in Girgaum on Thursday, and as usual, the festivities were grand, picturesque and saw humongous response not just from the local residents. This year, the celebration saw huge participation of enthusiasts from beyond the borders. While some coincidentally bumped into the event, some others actually typed ‘Gudhi Padwa 2026 schedule’ in their google search bar to ensure they did not miss this ‘must do’ event while planning their holiday travel in India. It is indeed a big moment for a Mumbaikar to know that an international traveler has Girgaon listed as one of the ‘must do’ destinations for an India trip in their diary; Gudhi Padwa being the cause is even more interesting. Tana, who lives in the Netherlands embarked on a long duration trip to India earlier this month, visited Mumbai specifically to enjoy the festivities. She told ‘The Perfect Voice’ , “I came here to celebrate Gudhi Padwa with you. I am here to experience everything that I see, all the beautiful outfits, beautiful people. I did a lot of research. I knew that today is the day New Year is celebrated in Maharashtra. I am a tourist. I am alone. I am indulging in everything here from food, festivals, dresses. I adore India. I actually typed Gudhi Padwa in the search bar to ensure I did not miss this must-do event during my trip to India.” Shivani Dopavkar, a Hula Hoop artist who is a regular and active participant had made an interesting statement when she had spoken to ‘The Perfect Voice’  during last year’s Shobha Yaatra. She had said, “I quit my IT profession to take up Hula Hoop as my full-time art. I wish to take Girgaum to a level where it is recognised globally. I have chosen Hula Hoop to accomplish this dream for which Gudhi Padwa Shobha Yatra is a perfect platform.” The dream doesn’t seem to be far from success as a lot of foreign participants dressed up in traditional Indian attire were seen enjoying the activities Annie, from Berlin who came to India as a tourist co-incidentally got introduced to the festivities. “It is really colourful. I have come from Berlin with my Indian friend. German culture is very different. Everything is colourful and vibrant here. The women on the bikes, the flowers, everything that we see around is very eventful,” said Annie. Early Preparations Girgaum woke up to busy preparations right from six am, as participants and volunteers geared up for the day ahead. The action began at around nine am, with people from different walks of life wounding their happiness around different themes from Hindu mythology to ancient Marathi traditions. From Children to elderly, to differently abled individuals, all enthusiastically navigated through densely crowded tiny lanes that whole-heartedly accommodated hundreds of visitors. Kamini Darji, a Gujarathi speaking Girgaum resident was present in the middle of the action with her differently abled son. Darji said, “I get my son every year to witness the festivities. The environment gives a very united and positive vibe. We never miss the event.” From Lejhim to Dhol Tasha Pathak, from bike borne Navvari saree clad women to Hula hoop artists; from live bhajan singing to Mardani Khel to children dressed up based on different themes from Chandrayaan to ‘Vithoba-Rakhmai’; the celebration gave a perfect introduction of India’s cultural wealth to all the international visitors. Jennifer from Germany who participated in Mardani Khel wearing a traditional nine-yard saree said, “We play Mardani khel every year for Gudhi Padwa. I have been to Maharashtra many times. This is the first time that I have come to Mumbai. I learnt this art at Shivaji Raje Mardani Akhada in Pune. I have been visiting India for nine years. Earlier I used to live in Bengaluru.” Vande Mataram Theme While it was a beautiful blend of all the aspects that define India, the cherry on the top was – the ‘Vandya Vande Mataram’ – theme. To commemorate 150 th  anniversary of India’s national song Vande Mataram, most of the Tableaus and art work revolved around patriotic sentiment. While Shobha yatra 2024 was all about Lord Shri Ram and 2025 about pride for Marathi language, the year 2026 was all about freedom struggle and love for India. The most interesting highlight was the 25-foot-tall paper statue of freedom fighter Swatantryaveer Savarkar that was carried past to the thunderous beats of drums filling the air with exuberance. A 31-year-old sculptor Gaurav Pawar made the statue along with his brother Gitesh and other volunteers. Gaurav said, “Last year we made a statue of Dnyaneshwar. This year we got an opportunity to make a statue of Savarkar Ji. We took 10 days to make the statue out of paper and bamboo material. It was completely eco-friendly. We got to learn a lot about Savarkar ji during the process and it was a very very sensitive experience.” The Statue was prepared in Bedekar Sadan which is one of the buildings located in Shantaram Chawl Complex which was the hotbed of freedom movement. The residents unknowingly carry forward the legacy of the enclosed structure, a place where prominent freedom fighters like Lokmanya Tilak, Annie Basant, Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Lala Lajpat Rai used to gather to lead historic movements.

Bared: Nashik’s billionaire Bhondu-baba

Mumbai: On anticipated lines, a day after the arrest of self-styled godman and celeb-astrologer Captain Ashok Kharat, the Nashik Police investigators have started probing his financial background to find that he may be tentatively worth an estimated billion-plus rupees.

 

Kharat was nabbed after multiple complaints over his alleged ‘sexploits’ involving scores of women, blackmail, extortion and recovery of some sleazy videos of his gullible victims, while rubbing shoulders with many high-and-mighty.

 

It triggered a huge political row between the Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling Mahayuti allies with charges hurled loud and wild.

 

The issue suddenly became a hot potato for the government as the opposition trained guns on its ally the Nationalist Congress Party’s state Women’s Wing President Rupali Chakankar – who is also the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women.

 

Congress’ Harshawardhan Sapkal, Vijay Wadettiwar; Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, Sushama Andhare; ruling NCP’s Rupali Patil, social worker Vijay Kumbhar and Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti demanded the sacking or resignation of Chakankar plus detailed investigations to ensure justice for the victims.

 

The needle of suspicion is pointed at Chakankar for her purported closeness to the now infamous merchant navy-turned-Bhondu Baba, and suspected cover-up efforts.

 

Kumbhar claimed that Kharat’s influence may have reached the top echelons in the government, he exploited his proximity to Chakankar, while undated viral video clips showed her holding an umbrella for Kharat and indulging in a feet-washing ritual.

 

SIT Probe

As the political fires raged, Maharashtra government ordered a Special Investigation Team headed by senior woman IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute to investigate Kharat’s murky affairs, and submit a period probe progress report. The Nashik Police and all other police stations in the state have been directed to hand over all the probe papers, case diaries or evidence concerning Kharat to the SIT.

 

The SIT will probe at least three independent complaints alleging sexual assault at Sarkarwada, Wavi and Nashik City in Nashik district, and Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district. It would cover the criminal and financial aspects, the obscene videos in a pen-drive recovered from Kharat, allegations of extortions running into crores of rupees from the victims, his assets, accomplices, and how far his tentacles are spread.

 

The 35-year-old complainant in Wavi (Nashik Rural) has accused him of sexual exploitation and blackmail, to make some obscene videos viral with a demand of Rs Five Crores ; and a similar complaint at Shirdi Police Station.

 

Kharat, who was arrested in the wee hours of Wednesday was produced before a Magistrate Court which remanded him to police custody till March 24.

 

Wealth trail

Police teams swooped onto a lavish bungalow reportedly belonging to Kharat, are studying the documents of around 30-acres land owned by him, real estate investments in Nashik-Pune, bank accounts and other assets he is believed to have amassed.

 

A Shivanika Trust, managed by him, is under the radar for alleged violations of norms, and politicians who were reportedly linked with him, lured by his self-proclaimed prowess in astrology and religious predictions.


58 – Kharat’s alleged clips showing him sexually exploiting women

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