|| MANACH SHREE AJOBA GANPATI ||

SOLAPUR, Aug 27: The Ajoba Ganesh here has a history of more than 100 years. In fact, it was being installed even before Lokmanya Tilak propagated the idea of a sarvajanik Ganesh festival to spread social and political awareness among the masses, claim the residents here.

Known earlier as Shetty Ganpati, the 10-foot tall idol of Ajoba Ganesh was first installed in 1895 in Shukrawar Peth. In 1895 there were more than six Ganesh mandals in Solapur.
However, when the British black-listed the mandal, the Ajoba group destroyed the documents of the organisation in 1898.
 
According to firebrand social worker Vishwanath Banshetty alias Banshettyappa, sarvajanik Ganesh festival was celebrated here before the movement of Lokmanya Tilak began.
 
``In 1895, Lokmanya Tilak visited the city during the Ganesh festival. He saw the festivity and convened a meeting of Ganesh mandals at the house of noted industrialist Appasaheb Varad to discuss various issues. It was only after another two years that Tilak introduced his sarvajanik Ganesh festival idea, Banshettyappa claims.
 
Veteran journalist V.R. Kulkarni said Lokmanya Tilak visited the city from 1893 to 1895 when Ganesh festival celebration was at its peak. ``After seeing the processions, the enthusiasm among the people and their unity, Tilak was inspired to turn that into a mass movement,'' Kulkarni said.
 
Banshettyappa said in those days Muslims and Hindus celebrated the festival like brothers. ``When we were young boys, Magribalishah Baba used to bless us and his green was always seen in the procession of Ajoba Ganpati,'' Banshetty recalled.
 
Sofi Murshad of Haji Mahi dargah used to garland the idol when the procession reached the dargah, he said. He lamented that now the ``clean atmosphere of brotherhood has been polluted by political leaders.''
 
 
Meanwhile, The Ajoba Ganpati Mandal and over 1200 mandals installed the idols of Ganesh on Wednesday. Police Commissioner Ahmed Gaveed and superintendent of rural police Padmanabhan have deployed police force in sensitive areas and tightened security for the festival.