When lokmanya was started ganesh festival?

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in 1893 as a means to unite people and foster a sense of nationalism against British colonial rule in India. He transformed the private worship of Lord Ganesha into a public celebration, encouraging community participation and solidarity. This initiative aimed to promote cultural pride and mobilize the masses in the freedom struggle. The festival has since evolved into a major public event celebrated across India.