Tilaknagar Mandal bids emotional farewell to Bappa, celebrates 76 years

With the thunderous beats of the dhol the rhythmic sounds of lezim and chants echoing with devotion the grand farewell of Lord Ganesha was celebrated in a spiritually charged atmosphere by the Tilaknagar Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav MandalThe Ganpati Visarjan marked the conclusion of their 76th year of celebrations on September 6 leaving behind an unforgettable spiritual and cultural impressionA legacy of culture and devotionFor the past 75 years the Tilaknagar Mandal has been a beacon of tradition and culture in Dombivli This year staying true to its roots the 76th Ganeshotsav was meticulously planned with the aim of passing on the cultural legacy to the younger generation In a commendable move the entire responsibility of organising and executing the festival was entrusted to the youth of the Mandal ndash and they rose to the occasion with unmatched enthusiasm and competenceHeritage in decorationsA major highlight of this yearrsquos celebrations was the grand decoration conceptualised and created by Sanjay Dhabade a former resident of Tilaknagar who has been crafting spectacular themes for the past 24 years This yearrsquos theme featured stunning replicas of the 12 forts recently included in UNESCOrsquos World Heritage list displayed in a uniquely artistic manner that left visitors awestruckSpiritual and cultural programmesThe festival wasnt just about grandeur ndash it was deeply spiritual too The Mandal hosted a series of religious programmes including 1000 recitations of the Ganapati AtharvashirshaVishnu Sahasranama chanting Satyanarayan Pooja Traditional aartis from KonkanBhavats devotional performances and the everpopular lsquoAnnakootrsquo ndash offering of 76 traditional food itemsThese activities received overwhelming participation from Tilaknagar residents and the wider Dombivli community reflecting the festivals deep emotional connection with peopleA traditional yet unique visarjan processionUnlike many modern processions filled with loud DJs bursting firecrackers and towering idols the Tilaknagar Mandal has proudly upheld its distinct identity Their traditional Visarjan procession featuredA beautifully decorated palanquin carrying the idol of Lord GaneshaA traditional lezim troupeA few dedicated dhol and halgi players from the MandalResidents and youth actively participating with lezim cymbals and saffron flagsThis year an exceptional feature of the procession was the participation of a 52member childrenrsquos troupe Trained by Mandal volunteers over the past two months their synchronised and disciplined performance was the true highlight of the event They even formed human pyramids earning gasps of admiration from the crowdDespite heavy rain and poor road conditions these young performers continued barefoot undeterred ndash a testament to their dedication and faith in BappaA soulful goodbye to BappaBefore the final immersion a collective chanting of the Atharvashirsha was held at Tai Pingale Chowk As hundreds of voices united in rhythm and devotion the entire atmosphere turned divine and emotionally charged A heartfelt prayer followed asking Lord Ganesha to bless everyone and return soon the following year Many were moved to tears as they bid an emotional farewell to their beloved BappaThe youth carry the torch forwardSpeaking on the occasion Mandal President Sachin Ambekar expressed immense pride in the young volunteers who successfully shouldered the entire festival He praised the efforts of the childrenrsquos troupe their parents and all the devotees who joined in the spiritual events especially the collective Atharvashirsha recitationThe 76th Ganeshotsav at Tilaknagar wasnrsquot just a celebration ndash it was a living expression of tradition devotion and community spirit gracefully carried forward by a new generation