Mumbai- Thousands of villages across Maharashtra are celebrating the 10-day extravaganza of the Ganesh festival with fervour and unity. The initiative, ‘One Village, One Ganpati’, was initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak with the aim of uniting people and fighting for India’s independence.

The spirit of the initiative reflects the joy and devotion of the people of Maharashtra. The One Village, One Ganpati initiative is a way to celebrate the festival with fervour and unity.

So far, 305 villages in Hingoli, 804 villages in Nashik, 225 villages in Washim and 571 villages in Satara district have adopted the initiative. The initiative is not only a way to celebrate the festival but also a way to promote unity and brotherhood among people.

In Urse, a remote village in Palghar district, the One Village, One Ganpati initiative has been adopted since 1973. The village unites the Kunbi and tribal communities for Ganpati Bappa. No personal idols are installed in the village. The children come together to create the Dekhava, which is a powerful message of social unity. This year, the Dekhava in Urse will celebrate the historic World Cup victory of India.