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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 7:55:54 pm

The BJP’s Ganesha Gambit

Pune’s Ganeshotsav has become an enormous civic and political stage, and the ruling party has proved adept at occupying it. Pune: The city’s Ganeshotsav is entering its final phase, but the festival has already demonstrated something beyond its extraordinary crowds and familiar spectacle: the extent to which it has become a political stage. This year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has left a particularly visible imprint on the festivities, using an event that reaches deep into the city’s...

The BJP’s Ganesha Gambit

Pune’s Ganeshotsav has become an enormous civic and political stage, and the ruling party has proved adept at occupying it. Pune: The city’s Ganeshotsav is entering its final phase, but the festival has already demonstrated something beyond its extraordinary crowds and familiar spectacle: the extent to which it has become a political stage. This year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has left a particularly visible imprint on the festivities, using an event that reaches deep into the city’s neighbourhoods as an opportunity for public outreach. The political appropriation of the festival has not, however, been without a counter-current. Demands were raised for curbs on noise pollution, loudspeakers and the volume of dhol-tasha performances. The argument was not against Ganeshotsav itself, but for moderation - notably, a complete ban on DJ music and limits on the number of dhol and tasha instruments used by performing troupes. Familiar Troubles The festival’s reality has been rather different. Major roads have been occupied by mandaps. Processions celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesha have unfolded amid punishing noise. DJ music, while subject to restrictions, has continued. Traffic congestion has become a familiar feature of the festival, with the movement of political leaders adding another layer to the city’s already strained roads. The Peth areas have remained crowded deep into the night. The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple has drawn enormous crowds for darshan from the opening day. From the old city to housing societies and neighbourhood mandals, Ganeshotsav touches virtually every part of Pune. For a political party seeking a direct connection with citizens, few occasions offer such a ready-made network of people, institutions and local influencers. The BJP enters this festival with an unusually formidable organisational base. It has two MPs, seven MLAs and more than 100 corporators in Pune. Murlidhar Mohol, one of the city’s MPs, is a Union Minister of State. Chandrakant Patil is a Cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government, while Madhuri Misal is a Minister of State. The party’s presence also extends into the festival’s organisational architecture. Its influence is visible across numerous mandals, large and small. BJP MLA Hemant Rasane is General Secretary of the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust. Kunal Tilak, a member of Lokmanya Tilak’s family, is a BJP corporator. The political and cultural histories of Pune therefore intersect in ways that are difficult to ignore. The BJP’s senior leadership has also made the most of the occasion. National President Nitin Nabin visited Pune to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the city before and during the festival. Such visits are about more than religious observance. In a festival watched by millions and embedded in the city’s social life, political visibility comes almost automatically. There is also talk in Pune that the BJP provided substantial financial support to Dhol-Lezim troupes and their organisers, with claims that some major mandals received financial backing as well. These claims would require independent verification, but the perception itself points to the depth of the political contest around Ganeshotsav. BJP workers, according to local observers, have also sought to make their presence more conspicuous than that of festivities organised by housing societies. Useful Expedient The festival arrives at a politically useful moment for the BJP. The party has faced disquiet on several fronts. Young people have been agitated over the paper-leak controversy. Broader public dissatisfaction has been voiced over inflation and unemployment, while government policies relating to ethanol and charges associated with UPI transactions have also generated criticism. While a political party can defend a policy in a press conference and advertise its achievements, during Ganeshotsav, its workers can be physically present in neighbourhoods, among processions, mandals, cultural groups and devotees. Politics thus becomes less about argument and more about visibility. That is the BJP’s advantage in Pune. Ganeshotsav, after all, is not simply a sequence of religious rituals. It is an elaborate civic network involving local organisers, volunteers, cultural groups, businesses, residents and political representatives. Whoever has influence over that network acquires a powerful channel of communication with the city. The BJP appears to understand this particularly well. Its strength in Pune’s electoral politics has been reinforced by a presence that extends beyond elections and into the institutions and social spaces that organise public life. The irony is that the very scale of the festival that makes it politically attractive also magnifies the civic costs. The political value of Ganeshotsav and the civic burden it creates are therefore two sides of the same phenomenon. For Pune, the larger question is not whether politics has entered Ganeshotsav. It has done so for decades. The more consequential question is whether the festival’s extraordinary social capital will remain primarily a vehicle for political outreach or whether the same influence can be used to reconcile celebration with the ordinary civic needs of the city. For the moment, the BJP seems to have understood the first proposition better than most.

Netherlands: Where Everyday Life Feels Like a Beautiful Story

Writer: Archita Redkar
Archita Redkar
Dec 25, 2025
3 min read

Exploring Europe’s lesser-known towns stole my heart, and living like locals offered a deeper understanding of life and culture.

During our family journey through Amsterdam, Cologne, Nuremberg and Berlin, we had already explored some cities earlier. But in this final part of the journey, we experienced something truly special as we explored Amsterdam, Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen. Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen may be unfamiliar to many travellers, but these charming towns completely stole my heart!


Whenever we plan a family holiday, we make sure to discover something new and experience real local life. This time, we chose the beautiful Netherlands — a gorgeous country in Northwestern Europe. Amsterdam is its capital, The Hague is the seat of government, the currency is the euro, Dutch is the official language and English is widely spoken. Famous for its canals, windmills, tulips, cycling culture, museums and strong happiness index, the Netherlands truly feels like one of the best family travel destinations with its clean surroundings, safety, excellent public transport and kind-hearted people.


Just like India has incredible diversity, I felt something similar in Europe, too. Crossing each border feels like stepping into a completely new world — culturally, visually and emotionally. Experiencing these differences closely is truly fascinating.


One of the most beautiful parts of our journey was celebrating Christmas in Assen with a Dutch family. We carried our favourite sweet — Gulab Jamun — and they welcomed us with warmth and love. The Dutch are known to be among the tallest and fittest people in the world, and we could truly see their healthy lifestyle. Cycling is a natural part of daily life, supported by wonderful cycling tracks everywhere. Assen also has excellent air quality; simply breathing there felt refreshing.


We had heartfelt conversations about life and festivals, followed by a lovingly prepared lunch. Dutch cuisine surprised us with its comfort and simplicity — varieties of cheese, millet bread, Stamppot (mashed potatoes with vegetables), Erwtensoep (thick pea soup), Dutch pancakes, seafood like Kibbeling and Haring, and of course, the iconic Stroopwafels filled with caramel. We enjoyed every bite, exchanged gifts and felt deeply grateful.


In Assen, we spent time in peaceful forest parks with tall trees and soothing walking trails. One truly unique experience was visiting pet animal farms where goats, rabbits, ponies, deer and roosters are kept, especially for children and families to lovingly interact with. Feeding and gently touching them felt healing and joyful. Later, we cycled along scenic canals, watching elegant swans glide across calm waters. Sometimes, slowing down is the best therapy.


The nearby town of Groningen is a lively university city full of energy and youthfulness. Huge thrift shops promote sustainability and thoughtful living, reflecting the Dutch mindset. There are also lovely shopping places like Primark, and the Albert Heijn grocery store became our favourite — their cheese breadsticks with hot chocolate are a must-try!


Giethoorn, often called the “Venice of the North”, was another dreamlike experience. Instead of roads, this fairy-tale village has canals, boats and charming cottages. It truly feels like stepping into a postcard!


Living like locals gives a deeper understanding of lifestyle and culture. It also made us appreciate India even more, where we enjoy a good quality of life at a much lower cost.


Finally, Amsterdam enchanted us with its vibrant streets and festive Christmas markets. The magical Christmas village near Museumplein, with ice-skating and twinkling stalls, felt like stepping into a winter wonderland. Visiting the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the concert hall beautifully completed our journey.


Soon, it was time to return home. As we flew from Amsterdam to Mumbai, I carried back not just photographs but lessons, emotions and gratitude. Travelling as tourists feels exciting, but living like locals gives us a real perspective on life. Nothing is easy anywhere — what truly matters is our mindset.


I truly believe that finding joy in every circumstance is the real key to happiness.


At Global Voyages, we specialise in customised tours to both famous destinations and beautiful offbeat places. Whenever we travel personally, we bring back real experiences to share with our clients, helping them discover meaningful journeys and hidden gems. During this trip too, we gathered precious insights and explored new towns that I am sure travellers would absolutely love if given the opportunity.


We remain committed to offering the best planning, care and comfort throughout your journey — creating memories that truly last forever.


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)


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