Festivals

Drums and dust, roars and cheers...this is what symbolizes festivals in Pune. People in the city celebrate their festivals with great enthusiasm. Most of the festivals celebrated here have religious inclination to the local gods and goddesses. Hindu Lord Ganesha is the main deity in the reign and is considered as the protector as well as owner of the city. Decorated streets, colours all around, people singing and dancing in their flamboyant dress, this is how people celebrate life here.

Among the local festivals is Ganesh Mahotsava often celebrated as Pune Festival. Although this festival is celebrated throughout the country but its magnitude remains unparalleled,anywhere else. People decorate the idols of Lord Ganesha and competitions are held and prizes are distributed to best decorated idols.

Another important festival celebrated here is Osho Commune Festival which drags a large crowd to Pune. This festival is celebrated to promote the concept of meditation and spiritual healing among people across the world.

The festival of lights, Diwali is also celebrated with great traditional gaiety and fervor. Beautiful oil lamps and colorful lights are used to decorate homes. Laxmi (goddess of wealth) is worshiped by people with great devotion and marks the beginning of Hindu new year.

For hundreds of year Pune has been following these traditional festivals and still holds a great respect for them. Years have passed but the zest and zeal with which the festivals are celebrated here, has never faded.