✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Maharashtra Bhawan is the Marathi community’s cultural home in Chandigarh, located in Sector 19-D and run by the Maharashtra Mandal (Regd.), Chandigarh — founded in 1962. It hosts the city’s main Ganeshotsav every year (2026 dates: 14–20 September), plus Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Makar Sankranti and Holi community programmes, and also functions as a rentable hall for weddings and functions with attached guest rooms.
Chandigarh’s Ganesh Chaturthi guide points out that the festival here is a home-and-community affair rather than a Mumbai-style street spectacle — and Maharashtra Bhawan is exactly why that community celebration exists at all. It’s the one building in the tricity built specifically by and for the city’s Marathi families, and it’s where the most organised, longest-running Ganeshotsav in Chandigarh actually happens.
History & Founding
Maharashtra Mandal Chandigarh traces its roots to the early 1960s, when around fifteen Marathi families living in the newly-built city began gathering informally for cultural and religious occasions. The Mandal was formally established in 1962, and the community held its first Ganeshotsav in 1964 — a tradition that has now run for six decades. Maharashtra Bhawan itself was constructed in Sector 19-D as the Mandal’s permanent home, giving Chandigarh’s Marathi community a dedicated space that didn’t exist in the city’s original plan.
Ganeshotsav 2026 at Maharashtra Bhawan
Maharashtra Bhawan’s Ganeshotsav runs for the full ten-day festival, with the idol installed on Chaturthi and daily aarti, bhog and cultural programmes through to Anant Chaturdashi.
| Occasion | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| Ganesh Sthapana (idol installation) | Monday, 14 September |
| Daily Ganeshotsav programmes | 14–24 September |
| Anant Chaturdashi / Visarjan | Friday, 25 September |
These dates line up with the citywide Ganesh Chaturthi calendar — see our full Ganesh Chaturthi in Chandigarh & Tricity guide for puja muhurat timing and details of the public Visarjan processions to the Ghaggar River in Panchkula. Idols from Maharashtra Bhawan’s own Ganeshotsav join that same tricity-wide immersion tradition on Anant Chaturdashi.
Other Festivals Celebrated at Maharashtra Bhawan
Ganeshotsav is the headline event, but Maharashtra Mandal keeps a full community calendar through the year:
- Gudi Padwa — the Marathi New Year, celebrated in March/April with cultural programmes.
- Diwali — community gathering and bhojan (feast) alongside the citywide festival.
- Makar Sankranti — mid-January, traditional Maharashtrian observance.
- Kojagiri (Sharad Purnima) — the post-Navratri full-moon celebration.
- Holi — community celebration with cultural programmes.
Visiting & Hall Bookings
Maharashtra Bhawan is at Sector 19-D, Chandigarh, 160019. Beyond its community-festival role, the Bhawan also operates as a rentable venue for weddings and functions — the hall and outdoor lawn together can accommodate a few hundred guests — and keeps a small number of guest rooms for visiting families. For membership, festival programme details, or hall bookings, the Mandal’s official website (maharashtramandalchandigarh.org) is the current point of contact.
FAQ’s
Where is Maharashtra Bhawan in Chandigarh?
Maharashtra Bhawan is located in Sector 19-D, Chandigarh, 160019. It is run by the Maharashtra Mandal (Regd.), Chandigarh.
When is Ganeshotsav 2026 at Maharashtra Bhawan?
Ganeshotsav 2026 runs from Monday, 14 September to Anant Chaturdashi (Visarjan) on Friday, 25 September, matching the citywide Ganesh Chaturthi calendar for Chandigarh.
When was Maharashtra Mandal Chandigarh founded?
The Mandal was established in 1962 by around fifteen Marathi families in Chandigarh, and held its first Ganeshotsav in 1964.
Can Maharashtra Bhawan be booked for weddings or events?
Yes — besides hosting community festivals, Maharashtra Bhawan functions as a rentable hall with an outdoor lawn and guest rooms. Contact the Mandal via its official website for booking enquiries.
