Eminent music director Khayyam formally inaugurated the festival at the Pimpri-Chinchwad auditorium. A host of entertainment programmes, competitions, magic shows, Marathi plays, will feature during the festival up to September 21. Renowned classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi has sent a congratulatory message to Mayor Madhukar Pawle and commissioner B I Nagrale for organising the festival which, he said, will help in creating a separate cultural identity of the township.

Chief guest Khayyam himself, along with noted actors Milind Gunaji, Jayram Kulkarni, veteran actress Leela Gandhi, participated in the shobha-yatra which began from the Moraya Gosavi temple at Chinchwadgaon. Huge tableaus, dhol-lezim troupes, musical bands, and folk dance performances by students of the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal schools were the highlights of the shobha-yatra.

Hundreds of citizens and children greeted the troupes in the shobha-yatra which culminated at the Pimpri-Chinchwad auditorium. A colourfully decorated elephant, along with camels and horses were the attractions of the shobha-yatra. Large and attractive rangolis were spread on the road as the shobha-yatra wound its way.

Khayyam in his short speech observed that it was because of the inspiration from Lord Ganesh that he was able to present several musical numbers and the films were `jubilee hits'. The Lord has helped the entire mankind and all those who have remembered him, he said.

First elected president of the erstwhile Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal council, S S Ghare said that the separate festival in the twin township has provided an opportunity to the local people here to show their artistic talents. The festival will be popular, and people from all over the country will come here to participate in it, he added.

Additional municipal commissioner R B Konde in his welcome address said that the participation of the people in the festival is necessary to build a cultural identity of the township.

Mayor Madhukar Pawle said that a separate festival committee would be formed next year. He also appealed Ganesh mandals to participate in the single immersion procession.

Amomg others who were present on the occasion included chief festival coordinator Tanaji Shinde, ruling party leader Nana Shitole, opposition leader Amrut Parhad, and vice-president of Premier Automobiles Limited M Mohandas. Deputy mayor Murlidhar Dhage proposed a vote of thanks.