Thatheri Bazaar Ganesh Festival Opens September 14 With Five-Day Programme

VARANASI: A five-day Ganesh festival is scheduled to begin at Sherwali Kothi in Thatheri Bazaar on Monday, September 14, bringing worship, bhajans and community competitions into the same neighbourhood programme. Sri Kashi Maratha Ganesh Utsav Samiti is organising its 18th edition.

The centrepiece will be a replica of Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja, to be installed according to Marathi ritual traditions. The organisers’ advance account said the idol was expected from Mumbai on Sunday. It should not be confused with the original idol worshipped at Lalbaug.

The announced programme runs until September 18. Maha aarti is scheduled at 9 am and 9 pm, with the opening day’s musical performances beginning in the evening. Bhajan singer Pooja Pandya is listed for 6 pm on Monday, followed by Jai Pandey and his group at 7 pm.

Competitions and evening performances

Tuesday, September 15, brings a fancy-dress competition at 5 pm and a dance competition for children aged up to 15 at 6 pm. Families considering participation should confirm the entry arrangements with the organising committee; the available announcement does not set out a registration form or fee.

On Wednesday, September 16, painting is scheduled for 5 pm and mehndi for 6 pm. A locally organised programme titled Kaun Banega Crorepati is listed at 8 pm. The festival announcement does not describe it as participation in the television programme or an event operated by that show.

Thursday’s September 17 schedule begins its evening activities with haldi-kumkum at 5 pm. Vijay Valmiki Group is due to present a tableau at 6 pm, followed at 7.30 pm by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj honour ceremony.

The programme combines devotional observance with opportunities to perform, compete and meet. Its timetable gives visitors a way to choose an activity rather than assuming every part of the festival takes place continuously throughout the day.

Closing procession on September 18

For Friday, September 18, the organisers have listed a 9 am aarti and a noon immersion procession. An 80-member group from Maharashtra is expected to participate in the closing arrangements, according to the advance account.

The published programme does not specify a complete procession route or an official traffic diversion. Visitors should therefore distinguish the committee’s event schedule from instructions issued separately by traffic authorities. A festival announcement alone is not confirmation that a particular road will be closed.

All timings remain the organisers’ announced arrangements and may be revised. The immediate opening to watch is Monday’s installation at Sherwali Kothi, after which the five-day sequence moves through music, children’s activities and community observances before the planned closing procession.