Ganesha Awareness Contest – Conclusion & Highlights
Aapli Marathi Shala and Community recently concluded the Ganesha Awareness Contest, where our community members actively participated by sharing insightful and factual information about various forms of Lord Ganesha. This contest is Our dedicated volunteer Suhasini Ji accurately compiled all the responses, and here’s a recap of the knowledge shared throughout the contest. This Ganesha Awareness Contest is organized to enhance awareness for the Keertan program, which focuses on the theme “Ganesh Mahatmya.”
This contest aimed to enhance awareness about Lord Ganesha, his different forms, and the temples associated with him. Over the course of the contest, we uncovered multiple facts about Ganesha, enriching our understanding and spiritual connection.
Our Participants
A special shoutout to all those who participated in the contest and helped gather valuable information:
✅ Shrikant Dhanawade
✅ Anita Sonawane
✅ Aarush Agrawal
✅ Santosh Patil (Smita)
✅ Pradnya Ahire
✅ Shantanu Gadkari
✅ Prashant Vaidya
Now, let’s take a look at the 14 Ganesha and their factual information that were covered in this contest.
Ganesha List and Facts Shared by Participants
Day 1: श्री मयूरेश्वर गणपती, मोरगाव (Mayureshwar – Morgaon)
📍Location: Moragaon, Pune, Maharashtra
🔹 Highlights:
- The first temple in the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage.
- Ganesha is seated on a Mayur (Peacock), hence the name Mayureshwar.
- The temple is built with black stone and has a fortified structure like a fort.
- Saint Mooba (Morya Gosavi) was a great devotee of this temple and later built the famous Chinchwad Ganpati temple.
- The temple has four entrances representing different Yugas (Satya, Treta, Dwapar, Kali Yuga).
Day 2: श्री सिद्धिविनायक गणपती, सिद्धटेक (Siddhatek Ashtavinayak Temple)
📍 Location: Siddhatek, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
🔹 Highlights:
- The only Ashtavinayak temple where Ganesha has a right-turned trunk, which is considered highly powerful.
- The temple was originally built by Ahilyabai Holkar.
- It is located on the banks of Bhima River, making it a sacred and auspicious place for worship.
- This temple is known for granting Siddhi (spiritual accomplishments).
- Many saints like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram have written about the significance of Siddhivinayak.
- Lord Vishnu is said to have performed penance here to obtain Siddhi.
Day 3: श्री बल्लाळेश्वर गणपती, पाली (Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak Temple)
📍 Location: Pali, Raigad, Maharashtra
🔹 Highlights:
- Only Ashtavinayak temple named after a devotee (Ballal), symbolizing Ganesha’s devotion to his bhaktas.
- The idol is Swayambhu (self-manifested) and faces east.
- This temple was reconstructed by Nana Phadnavis in 1760.
- Sun rays directly fall on the idol during specific months, making it an architectural marvel.
- It is well known for celebrating Ganesh Jayanti grandly.
Day 4: चिंतामणी गणपती (Chintamani Ganpati), Theur
📍 Location: Theur, Pune District, Maharashtra
- The name ‘Chintamani’ comes from the legend where Ganesha retrieved the precious Chintamani jewel for Sage Kapila.
- The temple is historically linked to Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s family.
- Madhavrao Peshwa spent his final days at this temple.
- The temple has large prayer bells, one of which was brought from the Vasai Fort after Chimaji Appa’s conquest.
- Theur village is at the confluence of the Mula, Mutha, and Bhima rivers.
Day 5: गिरिजात्मज गणपती (Girijatmaj Ganpati), Lenyadri
📍 Location: Lenyadri, Pune District, Maharashtra
- The only Ashtavinayak temple carved inside a rock cave.
- Believed to be the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to be blessed with Lord Ganesha.
- The temple is part of the 18 Buddhist caves in Lenyadri.
- Requires climbing over 300 steps to reach the temple.
- The sanctum has no pillars, making it unique among all temples.
Day 6: वरदविनायक गणपती (Varadvinayak Ganpati), Mahad
📍 Location: Mahad, Raigad District, Maharashtra
- Known as the wish-fulfilling (Varad) Ganpati.
- The temple was rebuilt in 1725 by Peshwa Sardar Ramji Mahadev Bivalkar.
- It has a perpetual Nanda Deep (eternal lamp) that has been burning since 1892.
- The temple pond is known for its purity and spiritual significance.
- The Ganpati idol faces east with a left-trunk posture.
Day 7: श्री विघ्नेश्वर गणपती (Vighneshwar Ganpati), Ozar
📍 Location: Ozar, Pune District, Maharashtra
- Ganesha is known as Vighnahar for defeating the demon Vighnasur.
- This temple is wealthiest among the Ashtavinayak temples.
- The temple was renovated by Chimaji Appa, and the gold-plated dome was added.
- The temple has large stone walls and intricate carvings.
- This Ganpati symbolizes the remover of obstacles and bestower of peace.
Day 8: श्री महागणपती (Mahaganapati)
📍 Location: Ranjangaon, Pune
🔹 It is believed that Lord Shiva worshipped this Ganesha before defeating Tripurasura.
🔹 The original idol is hidden in the basement of the temple.
🔹 The temple was expanded by Peshwa Madhavrao.
Day 9: श्री सिद्धिविनायक (Siddhivinayak) – मुंबई
📍 Location: Prabhadevi, Mumbai
🔹 One of the richest and most visited Ganesha temples in India.
🔹 The idol has a right-sided trunk, making it highly auspicious.
🔹 Celebrities, politicians, and devotees visit this temple regularly.
Day 10: श्री दगडूशेठ हलवाई गणपती (Dagadusheth Halwai)
📍 Location: Pune
🔹 Established by a sweet merchant, Dagadusheth Halwai, after his son’s death.
🔹 The idol is adorned with gold ornaments worth crores of rupees.
🔹 This temple played a major role in the public Ganesh festival movement started by Lokmanya Tilak.
Day 11: गणपतीपुळे गणपती (Ganpatipule)
📍 Location: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra
🔹 A rare self-manifested (Swayambhu) Ganpati idol facing the west.
🔹 Temple is uniquely positioned on a beach.
🔹 The sun’s rays directly fall on the idol during specific times of the year.
Day 12: श्री सिद्धिविनायक गणपती (Sarasbaug)
📍 Location: Pune
🔹 Built by Nanasaheb Peshwa, the temple sits in the middle of Sarasbaug lake.
🔹 Considered a Navsala Pavnara Ganpati (wish-fulfilling).
🔹 A famous spot for religious and social gatherings.
Day 13: श्री ढोल्या गणपती (Dholya Ganpati)
📍 Location: Wai, Satara
🔹 Massive Ganpati idol carved out of a single stone.
🔹 Temple built by Nana Phadnavis in 1762.
🔹 A popular location for Bollywood film shoots.
Day 14: श्री टेकडी गणपती (Tekadi Ganpati)
📍 Location: Nagpur
🔹 Located on a hill near Nagpur Railway Station.
🔹 One of the oldest temples in Vidarbha region.
🔹 Said to be a self-manifested idol.
Contest Recap & Takeaways
✅ Participants enthusiastically identified and shared historical, spiritual, and architectural facts about Ganesha temples.
✅ More than 50 unique facts were revealed, making this contest highly informative.
✅ A detailed article will be published summarizing all the factual information gathered.
✅ Top 5 winners will be announced during our upcoming Keertan Seva event on March 22, 2025, and they will receive certificates and gifts.
🙏 A huge thank you to all participants for their enthusiasm and dedication to learning and sharing knowledge about Lord Ganesha! Stay tuned for more such interactive contests that keep our heritage alive. This contest helped our young generation and community members learn new facts and revisit their existing knowledge about Lord Ganesha and his temples. Thank you all for participating and making this a grand success! 🚩
Stay tuned for more such engaging activities and contests from Aapli Marathi Shala & Community. Ganpati Bappa Morya!
– Aapli Marathi Shala and Community