Sanpada: The 33-year-old Sanpadacha Raja Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal is celebrating Ganeshotsav this year with a message of humanitarianism, urging people to preserve human values in the digital age.

The mandal’s main decoration features a nine-feet-tall Ganesh idol seated on a throne at the centre, flanked by two interpretations of the traditional ‘Samudra Manthan’ — the churning of the ocean. One depicts the mythological episode as traditionally imagined, while the other presents how it might unfold in today’s technology-driven world.

“We have created two scenes of ‘Samudra Manthan’ — one original and the other what it could be like if ‘Samudra Manthan’ takes place today. With the technological revolution, humans are losing out on humanitarian values. We are busy recording the crises, then helping out the victims in times of crisis,” explained Ajay Mahadeo Pawar, president of the mandal.

Established in 1993, Sanpadayacha Raja has grown into a cultural landmark in the node, providing a platform for budding artists, particularly women and youngsters. The mandal conducts competitions in elocution, essay writing, drawing, and singing, while also organising social welfare initiatives.

“We certainly provide a platform to budding artists like singers, orators, and writers, by holding various competitions including elocution, essay, drawing, and singing. In addition, we also conduct social welfare activities such as health awareness campaigns, eye check-ups, and full-body examinations,” Pawar said.

The 10-day celebration also includes bhajan recitals, Mangala Gaur, women’s aarti and other cultural programmes.

Box: Festival programme