Akhil Mandai Mandal
VerifiedShukrawar Peth · Est. 1894
The market district’s beloved Ganpati — a rare Sharada Gajanan idol of Ganesha seated with Goddess Sharada, worshipped at Mahatma Phule Mandai since 1894.
Story
Akhil Mandai Mandal was founded on 14 September 1894 by wrestler Nathuram Dongre, fulfilling a vow made to Goddess Tulja Bhavani: blessed with a son, he installed in Pune an idol resembling the Sharada Gajanan form he had seen at the Tuljapur temple. Sculptor Lele crafted the eco-friendly idol from paper pulp, cloth, and sawdust — one of the rare Ganesha idols whose trunk curves to the right. Inaugurated in the presence of Lokmanya Tilak, the mandal (originally called Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangh) remains the heart of the festival in Pune’s old market district, known for grand decoration and long-running social work.
During the festival
Known for high-scale decoration and jubilant miravnuks through the Mandai lanes.
Visit
Steps from Mahatma Phule Mandai — pair with Tulshibaug and Dagdusheth on a market-district walk. Lanes are dense on festival evenings.
The Sharada Gajanan idol draws devotees from across Maharashtra all ten days.
Shri Sharada Gajanan Mandir, near Mahatma Phule Mandai, Shukrawar Peth, Pune 411002
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