In the recent Pune floods, many dhol-tasha pathaks (troupes) lost their equipment. Young entrepreneur Punit Balan has promised to help them by covering their losses.
Dhol-tasha pathaks are important in Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra. People from all over India and the world visit Pune during Ganeshotsav to watch these performances. Many pathaks practice for weeks before Ganeshotsav along the riverbed and store their instruments and belongings in makeshift shelters there.
The floods either washed away or damaged the belongings of many pathaks. The artists and workers of these troupes were worried about how they would get their instruments and belongings back. Balan has come forward to help them.
He met with dhol-tasha pathak members and leaders of Ganesh mandals near Omkareshwar Temple on Sunday. He looked at the damage they suffered in the flood and promised to help them by covering their losses as a devotee of Lord Ganesh.
The troupe members and Ganesh mandal workers welcomed his help and thanked him sincerely. Balan said he has supported Ganesh mandals in the past and will continue to do so in the future. He promised to work towards making Pune a leading cultural centre.
