Adelaide Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav was celebrated in South Australia for the first time in 2012 with a small group of Marathi families who shared the vision of celebrating Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav on a large scale. ASG aimed to bring together people of all backgrounds to celebrate this festival and provide a platform for children and adults to showcase their talents. Our particular focus was on the display of Maharashtrian culture to the wider community.
The inaugural festival was celebrated at Windsor Garden Community Centre with approximately 150 people attending the festival over 2 days. This celebration was very well received by the entire community.
The governing body ‘Adelaide Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samitee Inc.’ was then founded officially in 2013, as the encouragement to provide the same opportunities for the wider community arose after the success of the first celebration.
By 2013, ASG had outgrown their first venue. ASG 2013- 2015 moved to Goodwood Community Centre, and then Unley Highschool in 2016. The 2 day festival continued to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm and fervour as before, but on a larger scale and with a greater number of attendees. Initiatives like the annual inclusion of dhol-tasha band (Shivagarjana Adelaide – who have now officially joined in partnership with ASGS), fundraising for charities, involvement of other multicultural groups, and encouraging children and adults to join in cultural programmes both independently and through groups organised by ASGS strengthened the foundation of this festival.
Every year, ASGS hire a hall each week for the three months leading up to the festival. This hall is used by ASGS performance groups to practice their cultural programme piece. People meet once a week with great enthusiasm – new friendships are formed and old bonds strengthened.
ASG continues to grow and the Samitee continually strive to make this festival unique and loved by all. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our ASGS family, friends and well-wishers who have helped make ASGS what it is today – by helping to organise, participating in cultural programmes, donating to charity and ASGS, and attending the festival with much enthusiasm and fervour. View our Gallery to experience the festivities from previous years, read our Testimonials and Humans of ASGS pages to understand what ASG stands for and is why it is cherished by one and all – and we hope to see you at Adelaide Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav this year!