On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, a spectacular highlight of the New Year welcome procession in Dombivli was the installation of a towering 150-foot Gudi at Nehru Maidan.
Describing it as a symbol of grand cultural celebration and expansive Hindutva spirit, BJP Maharashtra State President Ravindra Chavan said the majestic Gudi stood tall as a mark of pride and tradition.
This year marked the 28th edition of Dombivli’s New Year welcome procession. Chavan noted that the initiative began through the Shri Ganesh Mandir Sansthan with the aim of ushering in the Hindu New Year on an auspicious note and strengthening the younger generation’s connection with Indian culture. He expressed pride as a resident of Dombivli and credited the concept to Abasaheb Patwari and Sudhir Jogalekar from the BJP-affiliated Sangh Parivar.
Another major attraction of this year’s procession was the thematic floats created by the Dombivlikar Ek Sanskrutik Parivar. Two floats drew significant attention—one marking the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram” and the other celebrating the centenary (100 years) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). These displays became standout features of the procession, blending Dombivli’s rich cultural heritage with a strong sense of nationalism.
Chavan expressed satisfaction over the enthusiastic response from citizens to the themes of the Vande Mataram milestone and the RSS centenary, which were conceptualized around patriotic values.
Additionally, this year’s celebration embraced the theme “Many Forms of Patriotism,” receiving overwhelming participation from residents. A costume competition titled “Revolutionary Patriots” saw participants ranging from 5-year-old children to 75-year-old seniors. The winner received a cash prize of ₹25,000, while the runner-up was awarded ₹15,000, along with other prizes.