Pune- formerly called ’’Poona’’, is wellknown city in Maharashtra and popular with nickname ’’Vidyeche Maherghar’’ which means ’’Parental Home of knowledge’’( translation for our international friends). This gives me nice feeling to write on ’’Amche Pune’’. These days, Ganesh festival is going on and ’’Pune Festival’’ on the occasion in Pune definitely making City more beautiful with lightening and holly with the presence of God of Vidya (knowledge) i.e. Ganesh. Ganpati means Ganesh is worshiped by heart for 10 days in the City privately at homes and publically at all over city having ’’Ganesh Mandals’’ decorating Mandav (Pandals) (i.e.square tents of colourful cloth) with beautiful/innovative scenes from history/Puran (Ramayan/ Mahabharat) or themes in the social interests with some kind of lessons to the general public. Whole atmosphere is full of enthusiasm and hollyness till the last day which is called ’’Anant-(Ganesh’s name) chaturdashi’’ when procession will be carried out for ’’Visarjan’’ (putting idol of Lord Ganesh in the River Mutha) with que system. First five are called ’’Manache Ganpati’’ and last two also are special i.e. from ’’Phule Mandai (market)’’ and ’’Dagadushet Halwai’’ with of course special effects of lightening, lezims, dhol (Big drums) /tashe, school children in festive uniforms etc.. My family is enjoying this festival since our childhood. This procession starts on the last day at 12.00pm and ends mostly on the next day by 1.30pm or so. Pune Police with the co-operation of social volunteers and ganesh mandals takes care of it. So, planning to visit during this festival time will be a great deal.
(P.S.- Just came back at 12a.m.visiting procession. It was huge crowd this yr.as compared to last two yrs. Gap between two ganpati mandals is still time taking).
Exactly locating, Pune is at southeast of Mumbai having only 3 hrs.journey by bus/car/cab/taxi on the Mutha river . So, Pune’s nearness to Mumbai has made it little sister of Mumbai in all respects (Yes, I mean it !! Puneities are experiencing it) especially during last decade. Still, if anybody who has visited Mumbai will notice comparatively slow life due to no rush to local trains which is the main difference apart from absence of sea-shore .
Pune is becoming cosmopolitan which was once the place of famous Peshwas and Shivaji Raje. People from all parts of India are coming to Pune for job or education or one or other reason. I think they find it calm and comparatively silent place than Mumbai so some settle here in Pune after retirement purchasing apartments/pent houses etc.which are easily available and with less cost than Mumbai. So Pune is also called as ’’Pensioners’ city’’. In the days of my grandfather (may be start of 1900+), it was popular with nickname of ’’cyclinche Pune’’...My grandfather and his co-agers, then my father and his co-agers and even me and my brothers/sisters, co-students used to utilise cycle as a road vehicle. Now it’s replaced with petrol two wheelers in plenty and some cars having a owner/driver with mobile phone in a hand. Talking on mobile while driving two wheeler is banned. People take vehicle to the side of the road and communicate.
Pune’s products include chemicals, rubber, rice, sugar, cotton, paper, and jewellery. Industries include cars, trucks, scooters, and motorbikes; pumps, cables, machinery, arms and ammunitions, televisions, boilers, and generators. I wish to mention here, party wear ’’Paithani Saree’’ made in Yewala gaon near Nasik, is world famous silk clothing (Saree wearing ladies’ favourite) you can get it in Pune. It costs 3, 500/ onwards having speciality that no piece is alike and is handmade.
With Proud I can say, ’’Amche Pune’’ has got historical background of Peshwas and hence having visitors’ places like Shaniwarwada made of stones, Parvati temple on the hill, Ganapati of Sarasbag i.e.temple in garden, Morya Gosavi Mandir, Chaturshringimata Mandir which is godess temple, ’’Shinde Chhatri’’, ’’Lal Mahal’’ in the hearts of the city, place where Shivaji Maharaj was residing , Sinhagad, Purandar Fort are examples. Other historical places are Aagakhan Palace, old churches etc. Bhimashankar Mandir of Lord Shiva is also near to Pune. There is ’’Film Institute of Pune’’ where new-comers are trained for entering Film Industry.
For visitors I recommend all the above mentioned places. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is running site-seeing buses for Pune and outskirts of Pune. Plenty of lodges and restaurants cater to visitors’ needs. Aurangabad city is at 6 hrs. distance having international famous Ajanta-Ellora caves. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are on the 3 hrs. drive from Pune city which are hill stations, while Lonawala/khandala hill stations are on 2 hrs.drive on the way to Mumbai.
Let us see academic and scientific background of Pune. Pune university was founded in 1948, the Armed Forces Medical College is here. There are Institutes of National importance like NCL (National Chemical Laboratory, National Defence Academy (NDA), Armament Research Development Establishment (ARDE) and ARDL (Armament Research Development Laboratory) at Pashan Rd., Centre for Development of Advance Computing ( C-Dac) in Pune University campus , TIFR(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) and ’’Aayuka Institute’’ too located in Pune University campus add to the glory of Pune.
Yes, all puneities including me are proud of ’’Amche Pune’’ and I want everybody reading this review to visit if they have not yet. Really, I can say now ’’ Pune Thethe Kay Une??’’
JAY HIND!! JAY MAHARASHTRA !!!!