The culture of every place reveals the existence of that place and its historical importance. In other words culture is the mirror which magnifies that how old the particular region or place is.
Pune is recognized as the Cultural Capital of Maharashtra as it truly carries the heritage of Maharashtra along with modernization. One can say that cultural heritage and modernization walk together with hands in hands. The city presents the magnificent view of Maratha culture and Maharashtrian social and ethical values together. The city is the birth place various legendary personalities of India from spiritual movement to revolutionary movements in India poet saints like Takaram, Janeshvara, and revolutionary leader like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jayant Narlikar were born in Pune.
Celebrating every festival with full swing and courage has been the history of Pune culture. Any festival whether it is Hindu or Muslim festival is celebrated depicting the feelings of friendship and fraternity and it is because of this feeling that the city of Pune has openly heartedly welcomed every one who came in its arms. Celebration of Ganesh Festival represents the true picture of Hindu-Muslim unity where not only Hindus infact Marathi’s celebrate it but this is celebrated by the people of all community without any discretion of caste, creed or colour. Pune is basically the Hindu dominated city.
Apart from Festivals, dance and music also constitute an integral part of Pune culture. The regional musical programme known as Savai-Gandharva along three cultural programme of vocal and instrumental classical music are organized every year and people through out the night enjoy the performance performed in these programmes.
Chaturshringi is the regional Goddess worshipped with full devotion. A temple dedicated to the goddess is located on the north west hills of mountains. The major event is organized during the month of September-October on the occasion of Navaratra’s when people from different parts of the city come to receive the blessings of goddess.
Pune still holds the proud of spreading the spirit of Hindu Vedas. There is a Vedanta Academy founded by renowned scholar Vedanta, Swami Parthasarathy. The academy provides the free Vedantic education to the youth interested in Vedas through out the world. Apart from this a Vedanta Research Centre is known as Shrutisagar Ashram is situated at Phulgaon village to encourage the spread of Vedas among the people. The library situated in the campus of Ashram provides the detail explanation of Shruti and Smruti including Vedas, Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Upanishads and Purana in Marathi and English.
A temple dedicated to Lord Dakshinmurthy is also constructed on the banks of rivers Bhima, Bhama and Indrayani. It was constructed by Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati in 1989.
Recently the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has constructed a temple of Radha Kunjbihari located in the centre of city is now getting recognition among the people and becoming the place of attraction for the youth.
Lets discover more about the blend of Marathi Culture and Modernization at one place called Pune.
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