Sarasbaug Ganapati goes in for sweater, woollen cap

As the temperature dipped in the city, trustees of the famous Sarasbaug Ganapati temple decided to adorn the idolu00a0with a woollen sweater andu00a0cap to keep the Elephant God warm.u00a0A 55-year-old devotee, Shashikant Dharmadhikari, donated the warm clothesu00a0for the Ganesh idol and theu00a0temple trustees wrapped the idol in the sweater and cap 15 days ago.u00a0

The 250-year-old Sarasbaug Ganapati temple is one of the heritage places in the city. It was founded by Nanasaheb Peshwa during the Peshwa regime.u00a0A state government employee, Dharmadhikari has been a devotee of the Sarasbaug Ganapati for three decades.

"I got the warm clothesu00a0specially woven. I had also gotu00a0a special shawl made for theu00a0Sai Baba deity in Mumbaiu00a0two year ago," Dharmadhikari said.u00a0Sudhir Pandit, a trustee of the Sarasbaug Temple, said: "We welcome such gestures by the devotees.u00a0

In fact, on behalf of our own Dev Deveshwar Trust we have also kept aside warm clothes for the deities."u00a0Shrikar Pandav, priest ofu00a0the temple, said a sudden increase in the number of devotees coming to the Sarasbaug Ganapati temple had been observed.u00a0

He said that apart from curious onlookers, there were several politicians coming to seek blessings prior to the civic elections next month.u00a0"Around 30 to 40 politicians, aspiring candidates or political supporters visit the temple and seek blessings," he said.u00a0Among the devotees who visited the temple were Congress leaders Datta Pokale and Milind Pokale. Sachin Benkar, Kaka Chavan and Rahul Pokale of the Nationalist Congress Party also came to seek blessings.

Benkar, a leader from Dhayari, said: "I have faith in Ganapati and do visit Sarasbaug temple as a part of my religious sentiments."u00a0Chavan, an aspiring NCP candidate from Wadgaon Budruk, said: "My special prayers are that the city gets good political leadership in the days to come."