The public celebration of Ganesh Festival began in 1893, spearheaded by noted freedom fighter, social reformer and scholar Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Prior to this, the festival was predominantly a private celebration in many homes. Tilak recognized potential of the festival as a unifying force during a time when Indian society was highly fragmented along various lines such as class, language, caste, and religion, especially amidst the struggle for independence against British colonial rule.