Sunday, September 8, 2024 Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alongside his family, welcomed Lord Ganesh at his official residence in South Mumbai on Saturday, September 7, 2024, marking the start of the vibrant 10-day Ganesh festival. The festivities began with grandeur as Mr. Shinde, accompanied by his wife and MP son Shrikant Shinde, performed a traditional ‘puja’ at Varsha, the Chief Minister’s residence.
Speaking to the press, the Chief Minister expressed his prayers to Lord Ganesh, revered as the god of wisdom and prosperity, for the well-being and progress of Maharashtra. He noted that the state has been blessed with ample rainfall this year, which he believes will lead to a prosperous harvest for farmers. Highlighting his government’s initiatives, Mr.
Shinde outlined various welfare schemes aimed at benefiting women and farmers. He proudly mentioned that Maharashtra leads the nation in foreign direct investment (FDI), commanding a 52% share. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor C.
P. Radhakrishnan offered ‘aarti’ to Lord Ganesh at his official residence, ‘Jal Bhushan,’ located in Raj Bhavan. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also welcomed Lord Ganesh at his ‘Sagar’ bungalow, emphasizing the heightened security measures in place to ensure a safe celebration.
He assured that the police are vigilant during the festival. In a statement to reporters, Mr. Fadnavis took a veiled jab at the opposition, calling for everyone to be blessed with wisdom.
He further remarked that he would not tolerate any misrepresentation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, specifically criticizing those who misinterpret the Maratha ruler’s raid on Surat. Mr. Fadnavis insisted that history, often penned by English historians, needs to be corrected if inaccurately recorded.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also joined in the celebrations, bringing Lord Ganesh to his residence in Nagpur. Several other prominent political figures, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, hosted pujas at their homes. Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, along with his family, visited the renowned ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’ Ganesh mandal in central Mumbai.
Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who also serves as president of the Akhil Anjirwadi Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, visited the Mazgaon-based mandal to pay his respects on the first day of the festival..
