Click to play videoPune: The festive fever is on, but did you know who gave Ganapati Bappa an idol status?
Set in the precincts of the century old walls, the Vinchurkar Wada building in Pune is struggling to keep its history alive today.
However, what is significant about the building is that freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak installed the first public or Sarvajanik Ganapati idol here in the year 1894.
The Ganeshotsav celebration was initiated by him to bring people together, to strengthen unity and fight for independence.
Just like the Wada, its historic relevance too seems to have been forgotten barring a handful of volunteers who have now formed a trust to maintain the building and collect money to celebrate the Ganesh festival here each year.
“We don't go out asking people for money. They should donate money on their own for the celebrations,” says trust treasurer, Ravindra Pathare.
Tilak had advocated the fact that the British government didn't interfere with religious functions and use the popularity of the Ganapati festival as a cover for political activities.
"The British tried to divide but at that time he called Muslim musicians in the procession, which changed everything. That way he also included moharam. What he wanted to do was to unite the people to encourage them to come together,” says great grandson Tilak, Dr Deepak Tilak.
With the government still apathetic to requests to restore the historic structure and give it a heritage title, the trust has taken it upon themselves to collect money.
And it has also put up a huge billboard of Tilak outside the Wada wall with a hope to catch the attention of the ignorant passer by.
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