Belagavi is glowing. Streets, gallis, and chowks have transformed into a grand canvas of devotion, creativity, and celebration as the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav enters its peak. The city, with its 400-odd pandals, has once again turned into a cultural carnival, where every idol tells a story and every mantap dazzles with imagination.
This year’s themes are as diverse as they are mesmerising—mythology, history, patriotism, ecology, and even current affairs find their place in the form of grandly designed mantaps. From the Ganesha at Ramaling Khind Galli picking flowers for a Shivalinga to Lord Shankar dancing before his son, each tableau is a masterpiece. Bank of India Circle in Shahapur has paid homage to Operation Sindoor, while Nath Pai Circle has recreated the splendour of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, complete with a Ganga Aarti. The Bathkhande Galli mantap narrates ancient myths, and the idol at Vitthaldev Galli takes inspiration from the Shrinathji temple of Rajasthan. The sight of Garuda welcoming Lord Ganesha at Shaniwar Koot has left many spellbound. Mali Galli Idol is 9-foot eco-friendly idol made using paper pulp, corn kernels, and grass, while Nanawadi’s idol adorned with tulsi mani and rosaries radiates simplicity and divinity.
And yet, beyond the spectacle of artistry, what makes Belagavi’s Ganesh Utsav truly special is the way it wraps the whole city in shared memories and nostalgia.
For many, the festival brings back childhood recollections—of entire families stepping out together, on foot, to cover every corner of the city. “We would plan our routes like a picnic,” recalls one elder. “A tiffin packed by mother, a bottle of water, and an endless sense of wonder.” Bhel, churmure, and popcorn stalls outside the mantaps added flavor to the night walks, while children held balloons and sparklers, says Dr.Madhav Prabhu.
Then came the age of scooters and motorbikes. Families would still cover mantaps, but now with a little more convenience, though the laughter and late-night chatter remained the same. Today, cars fill the streets, yet the joy of stepping out together remains unchanged. It is, after all, the only time of the year when Belagavi sparkles well past midnight—every street alive with lights, music, and smiles.
The Utsav is not just about devotion; it’s also about community. Mantaps become stages for local talent, where children practice for weeks to sing, dance, or perform mimicry and skits. For many, it’s their first taste of a microphone and an audience. Schoolchildren pedal around on bicycles, determined not to miss a single idol. Families still divide the city into days, ensuring that no pandal is left unseen, added Dr.Madhav Prabhu.
It is no surprise that Belagavi’s Ganesh Utsav has such a rich legacy. This is, after all, one of the few cities where Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak himself sowed the seeds of the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav, making it both a celebration of devotion and a festival of unity.
Tonight, as the crowds swell, and the chants of “Ganapati Bappa Morya” echo through Shahapur, Tilakwadi, Nanawadi, and every galli in between, Belagavi once again becomes more than a city. It becomes a family—walking together, celebrating together, and holding on to memories that will be carried forward for generations.
