Ganeshotsav is a festival of great cultural significance all over India. The history of its celebration dates back to pre-Independence of India, when people were prohibited from gathering in large numbers.
A freedom fighter, Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the publicly celebrated Ganeshotsav Festival (i.e. Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav) in 1883 as a means of uniting people from diverse groups and enhancing their sense of social belonging.
Adelaide Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav was celebrated in South Australia for the first time in 2012 with a small group of Maharashtrian families who shared the same vision. The governing body ‘Adelaide Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samitee Inc.’ (ASGS) was then founded officially in 2013, as the encouragement to provide the same opportunities for the wider community arose after the success of the first celebration.
ASGS continues to be the pioneer of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav festival in South Australia, with exciting, unique and leading edge initiatives launched every year, inspiring the local community greatly; from the aim of raising much needed funds for charities both in India and Australia every year, to providing opportunities for 1st and 2nd generation Indian Australians to stay in touch with their Indian heritage through greater understanding of religion and culture (through prayers, speeches, social media initiatives) as well as performance opportunities.
ASGS aims to provide an avenue that preserves Indian culture within all present and future generations of migrants as well as provide an opportunity for locals of all backgrounds to celebrate this great festival together, therefore celebrating the multiculturalism of this great land called Australia.
ASGS Inc. will be celebrating its 9th public (Sarvajanik) festival next year, on 29th and 30th August 2020.
For more information visit our Facebook page or our website www.asgs.org.au.
