Ganesh clears obstacles for women reciting Atharvasheersha

Around 20,000 women devotees collectively recited the hymn in praise of the Lord, defying apprehensions of authorities concerned about security.

Vedic chants of

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Atharvasheersha

reverberated through the precincts of the famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh temple in Pune on Thursday morning as around 20,000 women devotees collectively recited the hymn in praise of the Lord, defying apprehensions of authorities concerned about security.

The collective chanting began at 0630 hrs and went on for one and a half hour.

Marking the 20th year of the ritual attended by Archana Patil, the daughter-in-law of Union home minister Shivraj Patil -- in front of the idol, around 200 groups of women eager to continue the tradition prevailed upon the temple trustees to allow them to congregate.

The ritual went off peacefully after Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh too assured adequate security measures in addition to a blanket cover of around 1500 volunteers of various Sarvajanik Mandals and organisations sensitive to terrorists threat perception at crowded places.

"A highlight of this years all women Vedic chanting of Ganapati Atharvasheersha' was participation of two Argentine female students who are in the city for academic study of Sanskrit," Mahesh Suryavanshi, secretary of the temple trust said.

The gold-laden Ganesh idol has been insured for Rs one crore.