Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh which is centrally located in Budhwar Peth In Pune, Maharashtra. This temple is named after its founder, Dagdusheth Gadve. Gadve began as a trader in Karnataka before becoming a halwai (sweet maker) in Pune, earning him the nickname Dagdusheth Halwai. The temple is near the historical Shaniwar Wada fort, which served as the administrative headquarters for the Maratha Empire’s Peshwas.

Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple is popular in Maharashtra and attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. Celebrities and Maharashtra Chief Ministers have visited the temple during the annual ten-day Ganeshotsav festival. The main Ganesh idol is insured for a sum of one crore ($170,000).

Story/Legend of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai and his wife Laxmibai were traders and sweet makers based in Pune. His original halwai shop, “Dagdusheth Halwai Sweets” near Datta Mandir in Pune, still exists. He eventually became a successful sweet seller and wealthy businessman. In the late 1800s, they lost their only son to a plague epidemic. They were approached by a compassionate sage who suggested they build a Ganesha temple in Pune.

Later, because they had no heirs, Dagdusheth adopted his nephew Govindsheth (born 1865), who was nine years old at the time of their death. Govindsheth was born in 1891 in Pune. He replaced the first Ganesh idol with a new one, while the first one remains at Akra Maruti Chowk.

As a kind-hearted and generous man, he established another Ganesh idol in the wrestlers’ training centre, named Jagoba Dada Talim. Dagdusheth, a former wrestling trainer, owned this talim. One of Pune’s chowks (areas) is named Govind Halwai Chowk after him. Govindsheth, along with his mother, oversaw all of the events, including Ganesh Utsav, Datta Jayanti, and other celebrations.

History of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

Shri Dagdusheth Halwai and his wife Lakshmibai established the Lord Ganesha deity many years ago, after losing their only son to the plague epidemic. Every year, Dagdusheth’s family and the entire neighbourhood celebrate the Ganpati festival with great faith and enthusiasm. Tatyasaheb Godse, then in his early twenties, was an enthusiastic participant in the festivities. Dagdusheth Ganpati became the most respected and popular idol in Pune after Lokmanya Tilak declared the Ganpati festival a public celebration to rally people for the freedom struggle.

Tatyasaheb and his friends were officially given the responsibility of organising the festival at the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple in 1952. Tatyasaheb’s associates, including Mamasaheb Rasane, Adv. Shankarrao Suryavanshi, and K. D. Rasane, planned and executed the festival with meticulous planning and professionalism, and they have not looked back since.

The architecture of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple is a beautiful structure with a rich history spanning over 100 years. Jay and Vijay, the two marble sentinels, immediately capture everyone’s attention. The construction is so simple that all of the temple’s activities, including the beautiful Ganesh idol, can be seen from the outside.

The Ganesh idol stands 2.2 metres tall and 1 metre wide. It is adorned with almost 40 kilogrammes of gold. Daily pooja, abhisheka, and Ganesh arti are all worthwhile events. The temple is beautifully lit during the Ganesh festival. The Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust oversees temple maintenance.

The temple is in the city centre, and the local shopping market is nearby. The trust organises various cultural activities, including music concerts, bhajans, and Atharvasheersh recitations. Shri Datta Mandir was their residential building in Budhwar Peth, Pune. Dagduseth’s grandson, Govindseth, was also known for his kindness and generosity. Govind Halwai Chowk in Pune is well-known for its name.

He later set up the Halwai Ganapati Trust. During the British Raj, Bal Gangadhar Tilak organised public Ganesh festival celebrations to circumvent an order prohibiting public meetings.

Facts about Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

• Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapathi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple in Budhwar Pet, near Shaniwar Wada, Pune City, about 4 kilometres from Pune Junction.
• The Sri Dagdusheth Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Pune.
• Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple was built by Dagdusheth Halwai, a sweet seller. In the late 1800s, he lost his son to a plague. This caused Dagdusheth and his wife to fall into a deep depression. To heal them, he built the Ganesh temple in 1893 AD, following the advice of their Guru Sri Madhavnath Maharaj.
• Every year, Dagdusheth’s family, as well as the entire neighbourhood, celebrated the Ganapathi festival with great faith and enthusiasm. Later, Lokmanya Tilak made the Ganapathi festival a public celebration to rally people behind the freedom struggle.
• The temple is simple but beautiful, allowing devotees to see the Ganesh idol and witness the aarti and puja from the road.
• The Ganesh idol measures 7.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The Ganapathi idol has a solid gold ear and is decorated with nearly 8 kilogrammes of gold.
• The Ganesh idol is adorned with gold and precious jewellery worth one crore.
• Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple each year during the Ganapathi festival, which lasts ten days. Lord Ganesh’s daily puja, abhisheka, and aarti are all worthwhile events. The temple is beautifully lit during the Ganesh festival.
• The Halwai Ganapathi Trust currently administers the temple. The Trust, one of the richest in Maharashtra, organises various cultural activities such as singing concerts, bhajans, Atharvasheersh recitations, and so on.
• The trust also runs an old age home called Pitashree in Kondhwa, an ambulance service for the poor, and health clinics in Pune’s tribal belts.

Famous Festivals In Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

Millions of people visit the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here.

• Ganesh Chaturthi is a significant celebration in this temple. It takes place in either September or August. It marks the beginning of a series of Hindu celebrations and is typically observed for five days.
• Bhadrapada Month Celebrations – Every year people from distant places gather in this place to offer prayers and seek blessings from the Lord Ganesha. It occurs in August or September, which is the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, and the celebrations last more than a month.
• Vijayadasami – Vijayadasami is another major festival in Morgaon Ganpati temple. It is celebrated in September or October along with Navaratri, a major Hindu festival.
• Hanuman Jayanti – Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Hanuman on this day. In Maharashtra, the event takes place during the Chaitra month. On this day, the Lord is the focus of special devotional talks and Poojas that begin at dawn and conclude after sunrise. On this blessed day, the Lord is said to have been born at sunrise.
• Akshaya Tritiya – Akshaya Tritiya is an auspicious day observed in temples throughout May. On this day, special Poojas to the Lord are performed. The benefits of Jaap, Yagya, and Punya are thought to last a devotee’s entire life and never diminish. Akshaya Tritiya, like Ugadi and Vijayadashami, is regarded as one of the days with no negative consequences.

Best Time to Visit Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

This place is very heavenly and spiritual, and you can visit it all year. However, the best time to visit this temple is during the monsoon and winter seasons. During the monsoon season, this location receives moderate to heavy rainfall, making it appear heavenly with its greenery and bringing freshness elsewhere.

How to Reach Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

The famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple is accessible by various modes of transport.

By Air: The temple is only about 12 kilometres away from the Pune Airport. From the airport, there are many auto-rickshaws, local buses, and taxis to reach the temple.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Pune Railway Station which is only 5 Km away from the temple.

By Road: You can take a bus to reach this place or hire a car or cab to reach this place directly.

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