Ganeshotsav as Maharashtra’s state festival: Cultural recognition or calculated political move?

The Maharashtra government has declared Ganeshotsav as the official ‘Maharashtra State Festival’ or Rajya Utsav, elevating the ten-day celebration of Lord Ganesha to a status with formal backing by the state.

The announcement, made in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, comes weeks ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi on 26 August and is seen as both a cultural endorsement and a politically strategic manoeuvre.

While the designation carries no legal statute, it grants the festival direct access to state funding for infrastructure, security, and promotional efforts.

The government also plans to integrate social themes such as Operation Sindoor and support for the armed forces into mandal displays, projecting a blend of tradition and contemporary messaging. Notably, the decision follows a demand raised by BJP MLA Hemant Rasane.

However, critics and political observers are questioning the timing of the move, as Maharashtra prepares for long-overdue municipal elections in cities such as Mumbai, Thane and Pune—polls mandated by the Supreme Court to be held within the next four months. The declaration is widely viewed as part of the BJP-led coalition’s broader attempt to appeal to cultural and religious sentiment, particularly among Hindu voters, and consolidate its base ahead of the civic polls.

Ganeshotsav’s origins as a public celebration are deeply intertwined with Maharashtra’s political history. Originally a private, household ritual, the festival was transformed into a mass event in 1893 by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune.

Under British colonial rule, political assemblies were banned; Tilak ingeniously repurposed the religious appeal of Ganesha—revered across caste lines—as a symbol of unity and nationalism. Through processions, bhajans, and public discourse, the festival became a platform for anti-colonial resistance and civic engagement.

Minister Shelar evoked this legacy in his Assembly speech: “Public Ganeshotsav was started in Maharashtra in 1893 by Lokmanya Tilak. This festival is deeply rooted in social, national, freedom, self-respect, and linguistic pride. It is a matter of pride and honour for Maharashtra.”

Shelar also addressed the controversy surrounding Plaster of Paris (POP) idols, which had earlier been restricted due to environmental concerns flagged by the Central Pollution Control Board.

“We initiated a comprehensive study to explore eco-friendly alternatives… The Kakodkar Committee, through the Rajiv Gandhi Science Commission, found POP not as harmful as feared. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav approved the findings, and the earlier restrictions were lifted,” he stated.

The lifting of curbs on POP idols, another popular demand among Ganesh mandals, is likely to further bolster the government’s standing with key cultural stakeholders in the run-up to elections.

While the official recognition of Ganeshotsav aligns with its historic and cultural significance, the political context has inevitably shaped its reception. The BJP’s move appears aimed not just at public sentiment but also at outmanoeuvring its allies—Shiv Sena and NCP—by laying symbolic claim to one of Maharashtra’s most resonant festivals.

Observers caution that this blurring of cultural celebration and political intent risks diluting the festival’s original purpose. What Tilak once harnessed to unite people against foreign rule is now at risk of being repurposed for electoral advantage.

Whether this designation leads to genuine promotion of Maharashtra’s heritage—or simply serves as a well-timed campaign strategy—will depend on how inclusive and apolitical its implementation proves to be.

Ganeshotsav is indeed a matter of pride for the state. But the test for Maharashtra’s leadership lies in ensuring that pride does not become a proxy for partisanship.