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The 10-day festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, dedicated to the elephant-headed god Lord Ganesh, commenced with pomp and ceremony across Maharashtra, with prominent political figures leading the celebrations. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomed Lord Ganesh at his official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai, performing a 'puja' alongside his wife and MP son Shrikant Shinde. He expressed his prayers to Lord Ganesh for the well-being of the state, emphasizing the importance of good rainfall for farmers' prosperity.
Shinde highlighted the government's commitment to supporting farmers affected by excess rainfall, outlining various schemes aimed at the welfare of women and farmers. He also emphasized Maharashtra's leading position in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), boasting a 52% share among the states. Other prominent leaders also welcomed Lord Ganesh at their residences, including State Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at 'Jal Bhushan' in Raj Bhavan, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official 'Sagar' bungalow, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray at his residence 'Shivtirth'.
Fadnavis, while acknowledging the police's efforts to ensure security during the festival, took a dig at the opposition, suggesting they should be blessed with good sense. He also expressed his disapproval of any attempts to portray Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire, as a 'looter', specifically referencing the historical raid on Surat. Fadnavis asserted that historical inaccuracies should be rectified, attributing them to English historians. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also welcomed Lord Ganesh at his Nagpur residence.
The festival saw political leaders from various parties visiting prominent Ganesh pandals across the state to offer their prayers. Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by his family including MLA son Aaditya Thackeray, visited the renowned 'Lalbaugcha Raja' Ganesh mandal in central Mumbai. Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who also serves as the president of the Akhil Anjirwadi Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal in Mazgaon, south Mumbai, offered prayers at the mandal.
Source: Maharashtra CM, other leaders bring home Lord Ganesh on Ganesh Chaturthi as 10-day festival begins