Pune: Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon visited Pune’s historic Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal on Thursday to offer prayers and perform the ‘Mahaarti’.
She shared her spiritual experience and prayed for the safety of people affected by floods in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
During the aarti, Raveena was seen playing the manjira and swaying to the devotional tunes, much to the delight of devotees present.
After the darshan, she spoke to the media, saying, “I have prayed to Lord Ganesha that all the people of our country—and not just humans, but all living beings—remain safe.”
She added, “The devotion with which people welcome Lord Ganesha is remarkable. Visiting this mandal and its museum, I learned that this tradition has been observed for nearly 134 years. Seeing the history here was eye-opening, especially since such lessons are rarely taught today. It’s essential to pass on this knowledge to future generations. I feel fortunate to have had darshan of Lord Ganesha and to learn about His history.”
Addressing recent floods and cloudbursts, she said, “I have prayed for everyone’s safety, particularly those affected in states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. I also appeal to all pandals to extend help to people in distress wherever possible.”
Reflecting on the importance of cultural roots, she added, “No matter how successful we become, we must never forget our traditions and heritage.”
The Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal, recognised as India’s first public Ganesh Mandal, continues to attract devotees annually, celebrated for its rich history and deep-rooted devotion.
