How Tilak Turned Ganesh Chaturthi Into a Freedom Movement?

Bal Gangadhar Tilak: Tilak changed the Ganesh Chaturthi from being a small family festival to a huge public event. Bal Gangadhar Tilak created this festival as a public gathering festival and used it as a freedom weapon. For this, he used a very simple way, which had a significant impact on British rule.

1. Publicizing Ganesh Chaturthi (1893):
Ganesh Chaturthi was initially celebrated at home before Tilak’s idea. Tilak noticed the cultural importance and the easiest way to gather people to trigger the Britishers. He encouraged people to celebrate as a public festival in 1893 using temporary platforms known as pandals.

2. Platform for Unity:
As a symbol of unity, Tilak appealed to the popular and widely revered deity Ganesh, a god who crossed caste and class. This created an environment of national solidarity among locales, especially among the educated elite and the masses.

3. Subtle Nationalist Message:
Apart from devotional performances such as bhajans and aartis, individuals delivered speeches, plays, and lectures regarding India’s rich past, culture, and the need to resist colonialism during the public gatherings. Though a religious holiday could not be directly banned by the British, the meetings spread nationalist sentiments in silence.

Also Read: 7 Famous Ganesh Pandals to Visit in Hyderabad

4. Symbol of Resistance:
Mass processions and festivals provided citizens with a feeling of collective strength. This came at a time when political meetings were curtailed by the British government. Using religion as cover, Tilak mobilized citizens politically without violating the law.

5. Consolidation of National Identity:
Most people believe that Ganesh is the symbol of removing obstacles. Using this as a theme, he has created an image of India’s freedom struggle during British Colonial rule. This festival created pride and showed the cultural importance of the country.

Tilak used Ganesh Chaturthi festival as one of the most important weapon for all the Indians. He set the stage for the mass involvement during the freedom struggle. From the political rallies to every corner of the country he has revolutionized the Ganesh Festival into a freedom struggle.