Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple-Pune

The Dagduseth Halwai Ganpati Temple is just one of the most Ganpati temples in Pune, Maharashtra. Dagduseth Temple was Established in the year 1893. The temple is located near Shaniwarwada in the heart of Pune city.

History

Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai (original name Dagadusheth Shinde) was a Maratha trader and also a sweet maker (Halwai in Marathi). He originated from Satara Maharashtra as well as settled in Pune. After he gained fame as a hallway, that became his surname. His original Halwai shop still exists under the name “Dagdusheth Halwai Sweets” near Datta Mandir in Pune. Eventually, he became a successful sweet seller and a rich business owner. In the later 1800s, they lost their two sons (Ram and Lakshman) in a plague epidemic.

Later, as they did not have any beneficiaries, Dagdusheth adopted his nephew Govindsheth (born 1865) who was 9 years old at the time of their death. Govindsheth was born in 1891 in Pune. He replaced the first Ganesh idol with a new one, with the first one still being present at Kondwa Pitashree ashram temple. A kind-hearted and generous man, he established another Ganesh idol in a wrestler’s training facility, which is called Jagoba Dada Talim. This Talim was owned by Dagdusheth as he was additionally a former wrestling trainer.

One of the chowks (area) in Pune is called Govind Halwai Chowk, after him. Along with his mother, Govindsheth handled all the programs like Ganesh Utsav, Datta Jayanti, and other festivities. The residence where they resided is now called Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Sansthan Datta Mandir Trust. Laxmi Road in Pune is called after Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai. Govindsheth died in 1943. His son Dattatray Govindsheth Halwai, birthed in 1926, was the one who developed the third Ganesh idol replacing the second.

This idol, called Navasacha Ganpati, is the one that is present today in the Dagdusheth temple. Lokmanya Tilak and Bhausaheb Rangari, the Indian Nationalist leader and a contemporary of Dagdusheth, were close friends of Govindsheth. Tilak saw Govindsheth’s dedication and the construction of the temple, and it was here that the concept of celebrating the public Ganesh event struck him. It proved to be an epoch-making event in Indian history.

Architecture

The temple is a beautiful construction and also boasts a rich history of over 100 years. Jay and Vijay, the two sentinels constructed from marble catch the eye of all at the outset. The construction is so simple that all the proceedings in the temple along with the beautiful Ganesh idol can be seen from outside. The Ganesh idol is 2.2 meters high and 1 meter wide. It is decorated with nearly 40 kilos of gold. The devotees of Lord Ganesh offer Him gold as well as money and also with every providing the Lord gets richer as well as richer. Moreover, heaps of coconuts offered to the deity are yet an additional function of the temple.

Daily pooja, abhisheka, and also the Arti of Lord Ganesh are worth attending. The lighting of the temple during the Ganesh celebration is marvelous. Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust considers the maintenance of the temple. The temple is located in the center of the city, local shopping market is also near the nearby temple. Various cultural activities like music concerts, bhajans, and Atharvasheersh recitations are organized by the trust.
Shri Datta Mandir located in Budhwar Peth, Pune was their residential Building. Dagduseth’s grandson Govindseth was also popular for his kindness and generosity. In Pune, Govind Halwai Chowk is popular by his name.
He later developed the Halwai Ganapati Trust. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during the British Raj, provided a public forum for the Ganesh festival celebrations as a way of getting an order that barred public meetings.

Idol

The main Ganesh idol is insured for a sum of 10 million (US$ 140,000). The temple celebrated 125 years of its Ganapati in the year 2017.

Festivals

• The Major Festivals is Ganesh Chaturthi
• Vinayaki Chaturthi (Vinayaki Chaturthi is the fourth day of the waxing half (Shukla paksh) of the Hindu Calendar Month.)
• Sankashti Chaturthi (Sankashti Chaturthi is the fourth day of the waxing half (Shukla paksh) of the Hindu Calendar Month.)

Nearby Attractions

• Amanora Mall
• Kavadi Pat
• Dive Ghat Valley

How to Reach

• By Air: 12 km away from the international airport.
• By Train: 4 km away from the railway station
• By Bus: City buses to Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple. Many bus stops are in the vicinity, only a few hundred meters away.
• By taxi/cab: book a private taxi from top car rental companies in Pune to reach the temple.

Temple Timing

Darshan Timing

Morning Timing	Afternoon Timing	Evening Timing
6.00 A.M. TO 7.30 A.M.	2.00 P.M. TO 3.00 P.M.	8.15 P.M. TO 10.30 P.M.
8.15 A.M. TO 1.30 P.M.	3.15 P.M. TO 8 P.M.	10.45 TO 11.00 P.M.

Puja Timing

Monday to Sunday	06:00 AM to 11:00 PM
6.00 A.M	Temple Opens
7.30 A.M. TO 7.45 A.M.	Suprabhatam Aarti (Morning Aarti or Prayer)
1.30 P.M. TO 2.00 P.M.	Naivedyam Aarti
3.00 P.M. TO 3.15 P.M.	Madhyana Aarti
8.00 P.M. TO 9.00 P.M.	Mahamangal Aarti
10.30 P.M. TO 10.45 P.M.	Shej Aarti
11.00 P.M.	Temple Closes

Temple Video