With Ganesh Chaturthi just around the corner, Pune youngsters are all set to welcome Lord Ganesha with the traditional dhols. A number of dhol pathaks (drummers’ groups) now adorn the streets everyday across the city.
Among the many groups is the Shreemant Maurya Dhol Pathak that has around 40 members, that has 15 girls. Most of these drummers are young students and participate in this activity out of sheer interest. Pune being a crowd puller during the annual Ganpati festival, these young drummers feel that it is the time they can showcase their skills while also worshiping Lord Ganesha through their art.
Talking with iamin, Mayur Ekal, a second-year engineering student said, “I have joined this group recently but I am thoroughly enjoying the practice sessions.” The two-year-old dhol pathak is a part of Tingrewadi’s Navshakti mitra mandal, a decade-old group that actively participates in most of the festivals in the city round the year. “The practice sessions are supervised by some senior people like Nikhil Joshi, Sukrut Gaikwad and Soumitra Bhotkar who guide us about the techniques,” added Mayur.
Nikhil Joshi, who teaches the group to play drums, himself picked up the art long ago as a school kid. “I used to play the drum for my school and now I teach here. My mother, Rupali Joshi, 43, is also part of our pathak. She wanted to learn it which is why I taught her the art of drumming,” said Nikhil.
The pathak, he informed, has an 80 per cent population of engineering students. The rest are working professionals. The drums, weighing around 5 kg each, are sourced from Pune’s Budhwar Peth and are maintained by the Mitra Mandal. The cost of maintenance is only what the pathak charges to people who invite them to play. “There is no profit involved. We do not take very large orders. We are all doing it for the love of art,” said Nikhil, who has been conducting the practice sessions daily since July 5, for two hours every evening and four hours over the weekends.
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