Vighneshwar Temple, Ozar, in Ozar in Maharashtra, is dedicated to Ganesha, worshipped here as Vighneshwar (also called Vighnahar), the remover of obstacles. It is also known as Vighnahar Ganpati Mandir, Vigneshwara Temple.
Vighneshwar is the seventh temple in the traditional Ashtavinayak pilgrimage sequence of eight Ganesha shrines in Maharashtra. The idol faces east with its trunk turned to the left, and has rubies set in its eyes, a diamond on the forehead, and jewels at the navel, flanked by Riddhi and Siddhi. Ozar's Vighneshwar temple is one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra carries a distinct temple identity of its own: From Mumbai's beloved Siddhivinayak and Shirdi's Sai Baba to five of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the Varkari heart of Pandharpur, Maharashtra weaves together Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta devotion.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 12:00 PM - 10:30 PM |
Sources give the daily darshan window as roughly 5:00 AM to somewhere between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM, open all 365 days with no fixed afternoon closure. On Angarki Chaturthi the temple opens earlier, around 4:00 AM. Maha Aarti is reported around 7:30 AM and 10:00 PM, with a Madhya Aarti near midday; exact times vary slightly by source, so confirm locally before planning a visit.
Poojas and daily rituals
Maha Aarti (morning, around 7:30 AM), Madhya Aarti (around midday), and Shej Aarti (night, around 10:00 PM); Maha Prasad reported around 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on some sources
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ganesh Chaturthi | August/September | Multi-day celebration with decorations and religious rituals marking Ganesha's birth. |
| Maghi Ganesh Jayanti | January/February | Observance honoring Lord Ganesha's rebirth. |
| Kartik Poornima | November/December | Multi-day festival featuring the lighting of the temple's Deepamala (lamp tower), sometimes called Deva-Deepawali. |
History and architecture
Architecture
East-facing temple enclosed by a thick, walkable stone wall, with a gold-plated shikhara (spire). The main hall (sabhamandap) is about 20 feet long and the inner hall about 10 feet long. The temple stands on the banks of the Kukadi river.
History
Ozar's Vighneshwar temple is one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines of Maharashtra. According to legend, the demon Vighnasur was created by Indra to disrupt King Abhinandan's yagna but caused widespread destruction; Ganesha defeated him, and upon the demon's plea for mercy, agreed on the condition that Vighnasur never enter places where Ganesha is worshipped, and that Ganesha be called Vighneshwar (lord over Vighnasur) here. The current temple structure is credited to Chimaji Appa, brother of Peshwa Bajirao I, in the 18th century.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located on the Pune-Nashik highway, roughly 85-92 km from Pune and about 8-11 km from Junnar town. Nearest major railway station and airport are both in Pune (approximate distances vary by source, roughly 85-92 km). Regular state buses run from Pune (Shivajinagar) via Narayangaon and Junnar.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Core history, Ashtavinayak sequence position, and general timings are corroborated across Wikipedia and multiple travel sources. Exact closing time (10:30 PM vs 11:00 PM), precise aarti schedule, and some distance figures vary slightly between sources and were not verified against an official temple trust website, so treat exact times as approximate and confirm locally.