Gondia names nodal officer for drive to get Ganeshotsav UNESCO recognition
Maharashtra has declared Ganeshotsav a state festival and launched a campaign to document it for UNESCO heritage status, with Gondia appointing a nodal officer.
The Maharashtra government has given Ganeshotsav, an example of the state's rich cultural tradition and social unity, the status of a "state festival" under a government resolution dated August 14, 2025. Following this decision, the state government is now running several programmes to showcase this glorious tradition of Ganeshotsav to the world, with the aim of securing UNESCO heritage recognition for it along with other international recognition. District Collector Mandar Patki has appealed to citizens to actively participate in these programmes and support the government.
A competition has been organised to award the best public Ganeshotsav mandals in Maharashtra on the occasion of the 2026 Ganeshotsav. Ganesh mandals that apply to the relevant offices for permission to celebrate public Ganeshotsav will be informed about this government resolution. They will also receive the necessary guidance and encouragement to take part in the competition.
This year, the Directorate of Archaeology, which comes under the Department of Cultural Affairs, has launched a special campaign called Bappa.org. Through this campaign, information about the special features, different traditions, art, folk culture and cultural heritage of Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra will be collected and preserved.
Under this campaign, citizens will be able to record and upload, via WhatsApp, the traditions of Ganeshotsav celebrated across Maharashtra, the rest of the country and more than 35 cities around the world, including the installation of the Ganesh idol, decoration, handicrafts, customs, art performances, food culture, memories and photographs. This information, gathered through citizen participation, will help create an official and permanent cultural record of Maharashtra's Ganeshotsav tradition.
Keeping the 2026 Ganeshotsav in mind, District Planning Officer Dr. Rupeshkumar Raut has been appointed nodal officer in Gondia district to implement this campaign effectively. His contact number is 9270241077. The district administration has appealed to public Ganesh mandals, citizens and everyone connected with this in the district to participate wholeheartedly in the campaign and showcase Gondia district's distinctive Ganeshotsav tradition and cultural heritage to the world.
District Collector and Member Secretary of the District Planning Committee Mandar Patki asked citizens to record information about the traditions, art, culture, memories and photographs connected with their beloved Ganeshraya through the Bappa.org website and become part of this historic campaign. He said this would contribute to documenting Maharashtra's rich Ganeshotsav tradition worldwide.
