The Padmanabhaswamy replica will include detailed scenes from the Ramayana and Krishna Leela, along with idols of Vishnu-Lakshmi, Shiva-Parvati, Krishna, and Narasimha. (Express photo)Written by Neha RathodAs Ganeshotsav approaches, Pune readies itself to glow in saffron, resound with dhol-tasha, and sway in devotion. For ten days, Maharashtra’s festive spirit will turn the city into a living canvas of lights, music, and faith, with chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ echoing through every street. This year, at Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati — the heart of the city’s celebrations — the festival will take on a distinctive fusion. Here, Maharashtra’s fervour will meet the timeless aura of South India, as a life-sized recreation of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple rises, uniting two cultural traditions on one stage. Marking its 133rd year, the Trust has chosen Kerala’s iconic Vishnu temple as the backdrop — blending Pune’s most beloved pandal with the grandeur of southern temple architecture.At Hirabagh Kothi, where the decoration work is in full swing, a skeletal frame of bamboo and wood already hints at the scale to come. Soon, it will transform into a 5-layer towering replica nearly 120 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 100 feet tall. “The pandal will have 30 pillars, 500 sculpted deities and sages, and an octagonal dome that houses the reclining idol of Lord Padmanabha,” explains Treasurer Mahesh Suryavanshi. “Over 400 artisans from Maharashtra are shaping every carving and detail. “It is not just decoration; it is craftsmanship at its finest.” he adds.The original Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is one of India’s most revered shrines, celebrated for its gold-plated sanctum and unique depiction of Lord Vishnu in Anantashayana (eternal yogic sleep). Bringing that vision to Pune is no small feat. The replica will include detailed scenes from the Ramayana and Krishna Leela, along with idols of Vishnu-Lakshmi, Shiva-Parvati, Krishna, and Narasimha. At Hirabagh Kothi, where the decoration work is in full swing, a skeletal frame of bamboo and wood already hints at the scale to come. (Express photo)But it isn’t just the scale that promises to mesmerise. The sensory detailing — brass lamps casting a warm glow, rangoli in temple motifs, the fragrance of garlands, the sound of bhajans — will pull devotees into a slice of Kerala’s sacred artistry. “Every year Dagdusheth surprises us with something new,” says Swati Marathe, a devotee who has been visiting Dagdusheth Ganpati for over a decade. “But this year’s Kerala theme feels magical. It will be like travelling to Thiruvananthapuram without leaving Pune.”According to Suryavanshi, the festival, expected to draw over two crore visitors, will also be steeped in daily ritual. Aartis, maha abhishek, Ganesh yag, Satya Vinayak puja, varkari jagran, Ganga aarti, and mass recitals of the Atharvashirsha by thousands — including schoolchildren — will fill the air with devotion. “For the past few years we have been making special arrangements. There will be walkways for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees, as well as eco-friendly practices. Faith must always go hand in hand with responsibility.”For younger devotees too, the anticipation is high. “The scale of the decoration is unbelievable,” says 32-year-old IT professional Rohan Kulkarni, who visits the temple every week. “Even before the festival begins, there is excitement in the city. We are already waiting to welcome Bappa with the same devotion and enthusiasm like every year — only this time with a touch of Kerala.”Story continues below this adAs the finishing touches are laid and the lamps prepared, one truth becomes clear: Dagdusheth Ganpati’s Ganeshotsav is more than an annual celebration. It is a canvas where devotion meets imagination, where artistry meets faith, and where a temple from the south finds a home in the heart of Pune.(Neha Rathod is an intern with The Indian Express, Pune)Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:pune