Columbus Ganesh Mandal

The public celebration of Ganesh Festival began in 1893, spearheaded by noted freedom fighter, social reformer and scholar Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Prior to this, the festival was predominantly a private celebration in many homes. Tilak recognized potential of the festival as a unifying force during a time when Indian society was highly fragmented along various lines such as class, language, caste, and religion, especially amidst the struggle for independence against British colonial rule.