Fadnavis launches digital platform to showcase Ganeshotsav, seeks UNESCO heritage tag

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated a new digital platform aimed at documenting and sharing the diverse customs associated with Ganeshotsav across India. The portal will host photographs, videos, oral histories and scholarly articles, allowing communities to upload content that reflects regional variations in idol making, rituals, music and food. Officials said the initiative is part of a broader effort to seek UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognition for Ganeshotsav, highlighting its social cohesion and artistic value. The platform, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and several heritage NGOs, will be accessible in multiple languages and is expected to be launched publicly next week. Cultural experts welcomed the move, noting that a digital archive could help preserve traditions that are increasingly under pressure from urbanization and commercialisation.