Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on Thursday said Ganeshotsav, now declared a state festival, will be celebrated on a wider scale this year with official participation from the government for the first time.

Chairing a meeting of senior state and Central government officials at the MSRDC headquarters in Bandra, Shelar directed every department to organise cultural activities, increase public participation and ensure wide publicity through social media.

The minister said Ganeshotsav, celebrated not just across Maharashtra but in 22 countries worldwide, should serve as a festival that unites all communities beyond religion, caste, and language.