A six-and-a-half-decade Ganeshotsav tradition of the Shri Madan Koli family in Panvel has once again combined devotion with elaborate artistic presentation, with this year’s ‘Shri Narasimha Avatar’ display emerging as an attraction for devotees visiting the celebration during this year’s Panvel Ganesotsav festival.
The family has been observing its public Ganeshotsav for the past 65 years, continuing a tradition associated with the public Ganesh festival movement initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Over the years, the family has drawn attention through different thematic displays presented during the festival.
This year’s presentation depicts Shri Narasimha Avatar, bringing together religious storytelling, visual art and stage presentation. Devotees from the surrounding area have been visiting the display in large numbers, according to the organisers.
The decoration around the family’s Ganesh idol has been created by Shri Sai Arts, Kalyan, with Ramesh Jadhav and Ganesh Jadhav. The curtain painting for the presentation has been undertaken by Ramesh Dukre, while the narration has been handled by Adv. Prathamesh Soman and Atharva Godbole.
The lighting, which adds to the visual presentation of the display, has been designed by Janardan Keni and Suraj Bhoir of New Panvel.
The organisers said the Narasimha-themed presentation seeks to bring together devotion, artistic expression and social awareness, giving visitors a religious and cultural experience during Ganeshotsav.
The 65-year continuity of the Koli family’s celebration also reflects the role that family-led public Ganeshotsa
