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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.

Thackeray cousins unite after 20 years

Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS to announce tie-up today

Mumbai: In a significant development ending six months of speculation and weeks of negotiations, the Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - are all set to announce their first formal electoral alliance on Wednesday noon, ahead of the upcoming civic elections across Maharashtra.

 

The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Raj Thackeray, are expected to formally declare a seat-sharing arrangement for key civic corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and elsewhere.

 

These include the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Thane, Mira-Bhayander, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli (all in MMR), plus Pune and Nashik.

 

“Tomorrow… 12 noon,” Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut posted a date with the media, sharing a photograph of the Thackeray cousins. Later, he later reiterated the same to media-persons.

 

Dismissing political guesswork, Raut said the seat-sharing talks between the two parties progressed smoothly and were finalised amicably over the past few days.

 

Among the 29 civic corporations slated to go to the polls next month, the BMC - India’s richest municipal body running the country’s financial capital - is the most coveted trophy.

 

The undivided Shiv Sena had controlled the BMC for 25 consecutive years, making it a key political prize, eyed by the Thackeray cousins and other major contenders.

 

At loggerheads for nearly two decades following a bitter political split, Uddhav and Raj were thrown together earlier this year for the common cause of ‘Marathi manoos’.

 

In July, the Maharashtra government issued two government resolutions (GRs) under the National Education Policy’s three-language formula, proposing Hindi as a compulsory third language in Marathi and English medium primary schools (Classes I to V).

 

A combined agitation led by the Thackeray cousins - with support from the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party(SP) and others - forced the state government to yank off the proposal.

 

However, the growing proximity between Uddhav and Raj caused discomfort within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies.

 

The Congress, citing the MNS’ aggressive anti-migrant rhetoric, opposed its induction into the MVA. Failing to block the MNS, last month the Congress decided to go solo in the BMC elections, but kept the door open for tie-ups in other civic bodies.

 

Congress out, NCP (SP) mum

The state Congress has reiterated that it will contest the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently, while hammering out an alliance with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

 

“We have made it clear that the Congress will go alone in Mumbai, and that position remains unchanged,” said Maharashtra Congress senior spokesperson Sachin Sawant.

 

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP), however, has yet to spell out its stand on whether it will align with the Congress or side with the Thackeray cousins in the Mumbai civic polls.

 

Amid speculation over a possible rapprochement between the NCP (SP) and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP - reportedly to be formally announced this weekend – SS (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on Ajit Pawar, questioning his status in the ruling MahaYuti alliance.

 

“Ajit Pawar’s real leaders are BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. If he is contemplating an alliance with the NCP (SP), then he has no moral right to remain in the MahaYuti government,” Raut said.

 

He further warned that any understanding between the two NCP factions in Pune would have repercussions for opposition unity. “If the NCP (SP) and NCP come together in Pune, then we will not align with Sharad Pawar’s party there,” Raut asserted.


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