Public Celebrations of Ganesh Festival-A Brief History.
(contd...)
Tilak wished to bring about social change for political
reasons too. He was convinced that social change was the key to political
awareness. The country was under a foreign rule. It was necessary to arouse
the masses to oppose the tyrannical British Rule. It was necessary to
stir the masses and mobilise public opinion for national ends. He wanted
his ideas to reach the common people, make them aware of British Govt.'s
oppressive policies, inculcate a strong sense of nationalism and the need
to attain Swaraj that is freedom from the foreign rule.
To achieve the desired result it was necessary to awaken the masses and
what else would be fit than the already popular Ganesh festival? It is
in these circumstances that in 1893 he appealed to the people to make
it a festival of masses.
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Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm
in Maharashtra. People invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesh for prosperity
and wisdom and pray for his help in removing all obstacles. Tilak's
appeal had a miraculous effect and people responded positively.
1893 saw the beginning of Ganesh festival as a public and popular
event with Shri Bhau Rangari, Shri Khajgiwale, and Shri Ghotwadekar
in Pune and residents of Keshavji Naik Chawl in Mumbai acting as
pioneers. |
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Festivals unite people. Ganesh festival provided
him a necessary platform to arouse them to oppose the reign of terror.
His ideas propagated through speeches and writing commanded wide
attention forcing the British Govt. to sit up and take notice. |
