History Of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati: Rich Dagdusheth Halwai in Pune Ganapati The temple is very famous. Seeing this idol also gives a mental satisfaction and many devotees come here with devotion. But the history of the famous Srimanta Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple is intertwined with personal tragedy, unfathomable devotion and social unity.(Photo courtesy – istock)
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When exactly was this Ganesha idol installed? And what happened because? At the end of the 19th century, Dagdusheth Halwai, a merchant, came from Karnataka and settled in Pune. But during this period, there was a terrible plague and Dagdusheth had to bear the death of his only son. To recover from this profound family grief, his guru consoled him and advised him to make idols of Lord Ganesha and Dattatreya and worship them.
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After this, Dagdusheth and his wife Lakshmibai installed the first Ganesha idol in 1893. During that time, freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started a public Ganeshotsav to unite the masses against the British. Dagdusheth Halwai also actively participated in this movement and established the festival as a major public and social event. Dagdusheth Halwai was not only a sweets merchant but also a great wrestler himself. In those days, the idols of Ganesha were usually in the form of a warrior, but this idol made by Dagdusheth was in the form of giving blessings and protecting the society.
What is the history of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati?
The idol of Dagdusheth Halwai which devotees are having darshan at present is the third idol. It is said that Dagdusheth's wife got this idol made from sculptor Naik and it was the second one. This third idol was created in 1968 by sculptor Shankar Appa Shilpi. Importantly, according to his advice, a Ganesha yantra was ritually prepared on the day of the solar eclipse at Mulamotha Sangam in Pune, and after that yantra was installed in the belly of the idol, the idol was installed on August 27, 1968.
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Today, Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Mandir Trust is not only a religious place but also undertakes many social functions including helping the poor, providing education to underprivileged children, old age homes and rehabilitation of labourers. Let us know how you feel about this story.