Ganeshotsav 2026 has expanded beyond Maharashtra for the first time, with 432 entries received for the state government’s competition and applications arriving from Japan, Sri Lanka, Germany, Nigeria and Singapore, according to an official statement reported by Mid-Day. Thane district has recorded the highest participation within Maharashtra, with 52 Ganesh mandals applying.
The competition is organised by the Maharashtra Kala Academy under the Department of Cultural Affairs. After being expanded to the taluka level last year, it has now been extended to national and international categories. Applications have already been received from several Indian cities for the national section, while the international category has attracted entries from five countries.
The deadline for applications in the national and international categories is September 25. Participating mandals must submit photographs, including geotagged images, documenting their Ganeshotsav 2026 celebrations and related cultural activities conducted during the past year. They must also provide photographs of this year’s festival.
The judging process will include visits by taluka- and district-level committees. Assessments will cover documentation, reports, photographs and videos, as well as cultural competitions, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, facilities for devotees, and activities involving students, women and senior citizens.
Environmentally responsible celebrations will form part of the assessment. The criteria include the use of eco-friendly Ganesh idols and decorations, measures to reduce pollution and initiatives to maintain a clean environment. Judges will submit their assessments online using geotagged photographs, a system intended to improve transparency and strengthen monitoring of participating mandals.
The competition offers prizes at multiple levels. The first-place taluka winner will receive Rs 25,000. At the district level, the first three winners will receive Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively. In the state, national and international categories, the first three winners will receive Rs 7.5 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh respectively.
The government has declared Ganeshotsav a state festival in recognition of its traditional and cultural importance. Officials said the overseas participation could give Maharashtra’s festival a wider global identity, while the expanded competition is intended to promote its traditions, cultural heritage and community initiatives beyond the state.
A dedicated online Ganpati darshan portal is scheduled to open on September 14. It will allow public Ganesh mandals to offer free live darshan of their idols to devotees worldwide. Families celebrating Ganeshotsav at home will also be able to upload photographs of their Ganpati idols for online viewing.
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar has appealed to Ganesh mandals and citizens to participate in the activities being organised under the state festival. The next immediate milestones are the opening of the online darshan portal on September 14 and the September 25 deadline for national and international competition applications.
