Social Initiatives Instead of Immersion Procession Expenses 

Call to Preserve Pune’s Heritage through Live Displays

Pune:  Utsav Mitra Mandal (Ganjave Chowk, Navi Peth) extended financial aid of ₹25,000 to Pandurang Trimbak Manavadkar of Ektanagar (Sinhagad Road), whose house was damaged due to the floods. The cheque was handed over during a program held on Sunday evening in the presence of Abhay Chhajed, General Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, senior journalist Sambhaji Patil, Dinesh Bhilare, Director of Udyam Vikas Co-operative Bank, and Anant Gharat, Shiv Sena Pune City Publicity Head. Present on this occasion were the Mandal’s working president Sudhir Kale, president Atul Dharme, Sachin Gaikwad, Vinay Kadam, Sumit Kale, Vijay Lonkar, Tushar Saste, Sunil Wable, Dhananjay Lonkar, Pratik Kale, Balasaheb Kamble, Shailesh Kadam, Anil Tapkir, Akash Kharate, and other officials.

This year, the Mandal has presented a live display titled "Pune’s Heritage: Let’s Preserve It Again." The live tableau portrays the changing identity of Pune, from being the cultural hub of education to a city burdened by traffic, crime, and addiction. The display calls for efforts to reclaim the city’s rich cultural, educational, and social legacy. The concept for the live display was designed by Santosh Shikre. Utsav Mitra Mandal, established in 1972, has been saving funds by forgoing the immersion procession expenses and instead using those funds for various social initiatives every year, as explained by Sudhir Kale, the working president of the Mandal. Meanwhile, Pune’s prominent figures, including Puneet Balan (trustee, Utsav Head Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Trust), visited the display and appreciated the Mandal’s commitment to social responsibility. They emphasized that the tradition of live displays should be continued in the future, stated a press release.