NEW DELHI: “Understand before you invest.” Many must have received a message from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) through its awareness initiative, “Samajh Se Investing Simple”.But how much do you really need to know about money and investment? This is where financial literacy comes in. And of course, it goes well beyond knowing how to buy shares or start a systematic investment plan (SIP). It involves understanding where your money goes, how borrowing works, what risks investments carry, how inflation affects savings and why taxes matter.Financial literacy is a “combination of financial awareness, knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial well being,” as defined by the organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD), an international organisation that works with governments to develop policies for better economic and social outcomes.And as India’s investor base expands, an important question emerges: Are more people becoming financially literate, or are they simply gaining easier access to financial products? Or just following the hype and the crowd?According to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the mutual fund industry had 28.62 crore folios as of September 30, 2026, while assets under management stood at Rs 82.64 lakh crore. Participation in the stock market has also expanded rapidly. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) reported more than 25 crore registered client accounts as of February 2026, with its unique registered investor base crossing 13 crore in April 2026. Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) added 3.53 crore investor accounts in FY26, taking its total beyond 25 crore.The shift is also visible in how households allocate their savings. The Economic Survey 2025-26 showed a gradual shift towards equity and investment funds in the composition of household financial assets from FY19 to FY25.The gap between participation and understanding becomes more apparent when investors’ knowledge is examined. The Sebi Investor Survey 2025 found that only 36 per cent of investors had high or moderate knowledge of the securities market. The assessment tested respondents’ familiarity with stock markets and their understanding of how inflation affects purchasing power. The findings raise an important question: as more Indians enter financial markets, are they equipped to understand the products they buy and the risks they take?So, how financially literate are you? There is no formal set of rules to define it, but here are 10 questions that can help determine it with expert insights.

1. Do you know where your money goes every month?

Financial literacy begins with understanding your income, expenses and savings. Can you identify how much you spend on essentials, discretionary purchases and debt repayments? Do you know how much remains for emergencies and future goals?A budget need not be complicated. Even a monthly record of earnings and expenses can help identify unnecessary spending.

2. Do you understand inflation and compounding?

Suppose you have Rs 1 lakh today. If inflation averages 5 per cent annually, something costing Rs 1 lakh today would cost approximately Rs 1.63 lakh after 10 years.That is why keeping money aside is not always enough. You must also consider whether your savings and investments can preserve purchasing power.Compounding, meanwhile, allows returns to generate further returns over time. But the same principle can work against borrowers when unpaid interest accumulates.Understanding both concepts helps explain why starting early, staying consistent, and managing debt are important.In this regard, Aswini Bajaj, CEO of Leveraged Growth, cautioned against blindly following popular savings formulas. “Understanding the fundamentals is important, but knowing how to apply them to your own life matters just as much. The goal is to make informed financial decisions based on your needs and circumstances, rather than blindly following thumb rules or someone else’s advice.”Further encouraging people to understand finance better, he added, “Whether you’re earning your first salary, starting to invest or feeling the pressure to match a lifestyle you see on social media, ask yourself: What am I saving or investing for?” He further stressed that the focus should be on using money to achieve personal goals and build financial security, rather than chasing returns or following trends without assessing their suitability.

3. Can you distinguish between saving and investing?

Saving generally involves setting money aside for immediate needs, emergencies or short-term goals. Investing involves committing money to assets with the expectation of generating returns, usually while accepting some degree of risk.As CA Balvinder Singh Oberoi stressed, earning more is not enough; what matters is how well people save and make their money work for them. “Buying and selling shares on any app doesn’t make anyone literate,” he said, emphasising that investments must be aligned with financial goals rather than treated as an end in themselves.Oberoi also highlighted the gap between knowing the importance of saving and actually practising it, pointing to lifestyle inflation, the desire for instant gratification and intimidating financial jargon as barriers to financial discipline.Ultimately, financial literacy means understanding your assets and liabilities, knowing when and where to deploy your money, and making financial decisions that support your goals and long-term wealth creation.

4. Do you understand risk before investing?

Every investment carries risks, although their nature and extent differ.Stocks can fluctuate sharply, mutual funds are subject to market risks, and even relatively stable products can carry inflation, liquidity or other risks.Before investing, ask whether you understand the product, its potential losses, charges and suitability for your financial goals.Leveraged Growth CEO Bajaj thus made an important distinction between the ability to bear losses and the emotional willingness to accept them. “Being able to afford risk and being comfortable with it are two different things.”Financial literacy means recognising both, rather than selecting investments solely because they promise higher returns.

5. Do you understand how loans and credit cards work?

Borrowing is not necessarily bad financial management. Home loans, education loans and business credit can serve important purposes.However, borrowers should understand interest rates, repayment schedules, processing fees, penalties and the total cost of borrowing.For example, a loan advertised at a relatively low monthly interest rate may be considerably more expensive when expressed as an annual rate.Similarly, paying only the minimum amount due on a credit card does not eliminate the remaining debt. Interest and other applicable charges can continue accumulating.Understanding these obligations helps prevent manageable borrowing from becoming a financial burden.

6. Do you have an emergency fund and adequate insurance?

Financial planning is not just about growing money. It is also about protecting yourself from unexpected expenses.An emergency fund helps cover essential expenses during job loss, medical emergencies or other financial disruptions. A commonly used starting point is three to six months of essential expenses, although the appropriate amount depends on income stability and family responsibilities.Insurance serves a different purpose. Health insurance can reduce the financial impact of medical expenses, while life insurance can provide financial protection to dependants.Understanding what a policy covers, its exclusions, premiums and claim conditions is as important as purchasing it.

7. Do you understand how your income and investments are taxed?

Knowing your salary is one thing. Understanding how much of it is taxable is another.CA Chandni Anandan, tax expert at ClearTax, said basic tax literacy means understanding taxable income, deductions, exemptions, tax deducted at source (TDS) and the differences between the old and new income tax regimes.“Tax literacy does not mean knowing every section of the law. At a basic level, an individual should understand how their income is taxed, what makes up taxable income, which deductions or exemptions may apply to them, and how taxes already deducted through TDS affect their final liability.”For investors, it also means knowing that short-term and long-term capital gains may be taxed differently, depending on the asset and applicable rules.Anandan further cautioned against assuming that tax deducted by an employer or bank settles the entire liability. Individuals should also review their Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS and income tax returns.Simply filing a return, even accurately, does not necessarily demonstrate an understanding of taxation.

8. Can you recognise financial fraud and misleading investment advice?

A message promising unusually high returns with little or no risk should raise questions, not excitement.Financial literacy involves recognising warning signs such as guaranteed returns, pressure to invest immediately, unsolicited stock tips and requests for sensitive banking information.It also means checking whether an investment intermediary is appropriately registered and understanding the product before transferring money.Here, Anooshka Soham Bathwal, CEO and founder of Dhanvesttor, warned that investors can be misled when they focus on a product’s apparent benefits without assessing its suitability. She noted that people often follow recommendations from friends, agents or social media without understanding the associated risks, potential returns, costs or tax implications.“People may only pay attention to its benefits in terms of savings and ignore factors related to their suitability and needs,” she said, while shedding light on investors and their tendency to prioritise tax savings over overall financial well-being.Bathwal also highlighted the gender divide when it comes to financial decisions, observing that some women with substantial earnings still leave financial decisions to male relatives or consultants.“Financial independence is not just about earning money; it’s also about having the knowledge and confidence to decide what to do with it.”Her advice is to look beyond the promised benefit, understand the product and assess whether it fits one’s financial goals and risk capacity before investing.

9. Do you have a financial plan for the future?

Financial goals change with age and circumstances. A first-time employee may prioritise an emergency fund, while someone approaching retirement may focus on income security.The important thing is to identify goals, estimate their costs and select appropriate saving or investment options.Retirement planning also requires understanding how inflation can increase future living expenses and how pension or retirement savings products work.Dr Shunil Tripathi, a financial literacy activist and trainer associated with financial education programmes of the RBI, Sebi, IRDAI and PFRDA,said a financially literate person connects savings and investments to specific goals and time frames rather than following market trends.The objective is not necessarily to maximise returns at every opportunity, but to make financial decisions that support long-term security.

10. Can you make financial decisions independently?

Perhaps the most important test of financial literacy is whether you can explain your financial choices.Do you understand why you hold a particular investment? Can you assess a loan offer without relying entirely on a salesperson? Would you question a financial recommendation that does not match your circumstances?Being financially literate does not mean never seeking professional advice. It means knowing enough to ask relevant questions and evaluate the answers.As financial programme trainer Dr Tripathi further said, “Someone who invests has taken an action. Someone who is financially literate understands why they took it.”It also means recognising that financial decisions should not be entirely outsourced to family members or advisers.

The bigger picture

Financial literacy does not mean knowing every investment scheme, tax provision or market mechanism. It means understanding the basics well enough to make informed decisions, recognise risks and ask the right questions.

Also, the above 10 questions are not a formal test or a set of established rules to measure financial literacy. They are a starting point to help one reflect on their financial habits, identify gaps in understanding and take a more active interest in managing money.You do not have to become a financial expert overnight, nor does being financially literate mean managing everything on your own. The aim is to take an active interest in your finances, understand the decisions being made on your behalf and know when to seek professional advice. Experts can help you navigate complexity, but understanding your money remains your responsibility.

The UAE has spent years attracting some of football’s biggest names, but its Golden Visa programme offers more than a convenient way for global stars to visit the Emirates. Since the government expanded eligibility to exceptional sporting talent in 2020, footballers have used their connections with the country in different ways, from establishing businesses and investing in local football to building media ventures and developing opportunities for young players. Here are 10 footballers who received the coveted residency, and what their relationships with the UAE have looked like beyond the initial announcements.

What is the UAE Golden Visa, and why did footballers become eligible?

The UAE introduced its Golden Residency programme in 2019 under an initiative announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the country’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler. Initially associated with investors, entrepreneurs and specialised professionals, the programme offered eligible foreign nationals a longer-term alternative to conventional residence permits tied to employment or local sponsorship.A significant expansion followed in 2020, when the UAE Cabinet extended the 10-year residency pathway to exceptional sporting talent. The Dubai Sports Council helped bring prominent international athletes into the programme, with Cristiano Ronaldo and several other football stars forming part of the first sporting cohort.The change reflected an ambition extending beyond attracting famous visitors. Under the UAE’s economic diversification strategy, including the longer-term objectives associated with We the UAE 2031 and Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, global talent can help strengthen industries beyond oil, including technology, tourism, healthcare, education and professional sport.Footballers offer a particularly visible connection between those ambitions and the wider public. Their international audiences can bring attention to local sporting facilities, youth development programmes, commercial partnerships and investment opportunities, while some recipients have gone on to establish more direct professional or business ties with the country.

What does the Golden Visa offer, and who can qualify?

The Golden Visa is a renewable, long-term residency permit that allows eligible foreign nationals to live, work, study and invest in the UAE without requiring an employer or another local sponsor to maintain their residency. Depending on the applicable category and eligibility conditions, the permit can last five or 10 years.Its main benefits include:

Following the expansion, the programme now covers several categories, including property investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and exceptional talents in sport, culture and the arts. Each pathway has its own criteria and application or nomination process, so receiving the visa does not necessarily require buying property or taking up employment with a UAE-based organisation.For footballers, the expanded sporting category created a route to long-term residency based on exceptional achievement and talent, rather than requiring them to leave their existing clubs and move to the Emirates.

Ten footballers who received the UAE Golden Visa

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (February 2020)

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo received his 10-year UAE Golden Visa in February 2020 while playing for Juventus, becoming one of the most prominent beneficiaries of the newly expanded sporting category. The recognition followed his sixth Best Men’s Player accolade at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards on 29 December 2019, reflecting both his international standing and his established relationship with the Emirate.His placement in the inaugural sporting cohort demonstrated that an athlete could maintain an active career abroad while holding long-term UAE residency. Ronaldo subsequently signed with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in January 2023, extending his commitment through June 2027, while frequently visiting Dubai for personal and professional obligations. To anchor this long-term connection to the region, Ronaldo expanded his international real estate portfolio by acquiring a €25 million plot of land on Jumeirah Bay Island—a highly exclusive, seahorse-shaped enclave widely known as “Billionaire Island”. The acquisition was made to construct a custom waterfront mega-mansion, providing a permanent family base in the UAE just a short distance from his football commitments in Riyadh.

His relationship with the Emirates also features a prominent personal dimension, highlighted by a well-documented friendship with the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Ronaldo has repeatedly spoken warmly of the city, stating during an appearance at Expo 2020 Dubai on 28 January 2022: “I thank all my fans… I love Dubai, its culture and its people, and I visit Dubai every year, and I am very happy to be here.”

2. Didier Drogba (November 2020)

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba received his Golden Visa in November 2020, when Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, director of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, welcomed him at the department’s headquarters to present the residency card.The recognition came after a decorated career that included four English Premier League titles and a Champions League crown with Chelsea. Drogba was also presented with the Medal of First Line of Defence in appreciation of his support for the Dubai Sports Council’s Be Fit, Be Safe campaign, which encouraged residents to prioritise physical wellbeing during the pandemic.

His connection with Dubai extended beyond football, with the former striker exploring opportunities involving commercial property, sports academies and the wider sports sector. He has also participated in international business events, including AIBC Eurasia, bringing his sporting profile into discussions around emerging technology, blockchain and investment.

3. Ronaldinho (May 2021)

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho, whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, received his 10-year Golden Visa in May 2021 through Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Major General Mohammed Al Marri and his deputy, Major General Obaid Muhair bin Surour, were present when the former Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker received the residency.Ronaldinho’s relationship with the UAE has included ambitions around youth football and wider sporting partnerships. He signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi-based Palms Sports, establishing a framework intended to combine elite athletic development with academic opportunities for young Emirati athletes.He has also laid the groundwork for a Ronaldinho Football Academy in Dubai, with the proposed project centred on structured coaching and the Brazilian approach to attacking football commonly associated with Joga Bonito. His wider appearances across the region have included sports events, corporate gatherings and digital-technology exhibitions, where his global profile attracts audiences beyond traditional football supporters.Ronaldinho has regularly visited and trained in Dubai since his youth, making the city a familiar base for his regional engagements. His Golden Visa provides long-term residency flexibility while he explores sporting, commercial and cultural opportunities across the Emirates.

4. Paul Pogba (February 2020)

French midfielder and World Cup winner Paul Pogba was among the elite sporting figures granted a UAE Golden Visa in February 2020. At the time, the former Manchester United star had already established a strong connection with Dubai, regularly utilizing the city’s sports infrastructure for off-season conditioning and warm-weather training.Dubai’s high-performance training centres have been central to Pogba’s conditioning and rehabilitation, particularly at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex and Transform Altitude Performance Center. He has also supported local fitness campaigns with the Dubai Sports Council and mentored young players at community events.

His regional interests have since expanded beyond football into traditional Gulf sports culture. In late 2025, Pogba became a significant shareholder and global ambassador for Al Haboob, the world’s first professional camel racing team. The Saudi-founded organization competes heavily across the UAE and the wider Gulf region, aiming to modernize the sport by introducing advanced sports science, data tracking, and robotic jockey technology. Pogba’s involvement is intended to help elevate camel racing to a global audience, bridging the gap between historical heritage and modern professional sports management.

5. Romelu Lukaku (February 2020)

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku was another big name from that initial wave of sports stars to secure a UAE Golden Visa in February 2020, right while he was dominating Serie A with Inter Milan. The long-term residency was a massive nod to his status as one of Europe’s top forwards, giving him a permanent tie to the Emirates without having to uproot his club career.Lukaku’s Dubai connection grew at the 14th Dubai International Sports Conference, where he joined João Félix and Mikael Silvestre to discuss football technology. He also spoke about coping with online racism, urging young players to use social media positively. The event ended with a viral moment when a UAE royal presented him with a golden plaque that misspelled his name as “Romello”.

When he isn’t speaking at summits, Lukaku uses Dubai as his ultimate reset button. He’s a regular at the world-class Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex during league winter breaks, using the warm weather and high-tech facilities to keep his conditioning at an elite level. His routine fits perfectly into Dubai’s push to become the global capital for off-season athletic recovery.

6. Luís Figo (February 2020)

Former Portugal international Luís Figo, the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner who played for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, received his Golden Visa as part of the February 2020 sporting initiative. The residency recognised his career at the highest level while giving him a long-term base for professional and commercial activities across the region.Figo has maintained links with Dubai through brand partnerships and sporting events, including collaborations with Mastercard Middle East and Africa during Expo 2020 Dubai. His appearances included fan meet-and-greet sessions and promotional activities featuring the UEFA Champions League trophy.

He also participated in a Guinness World Record initiative involving the highest-altitude football match played on a parabolic flight, a campaign coordinated through Dubai. Alongside those commercial engagements, Figo supported the Dubai Sports Council’s Be Fit, Be Safe campaign during the pandemic, encouraging residents to remain physically active while public spaces were restricted.His post-playing career has increasingly involved ambassadorial work and international business events, making the Golden Visa a useful foundation for maintaining commitments across Europe and the Middle East.

7. Roberto Carlos (February 2020)

Brazilian World Cup winner and former Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos received his Golden Visa in February 2020, joining a group of football legends recognised for their sporting achievements and connections with the Emirates. His relationship with Dubai has included exhibition matches, community fitness initiatives and youth football development.In August 2026, Carlos became a co-owner and shareholder of Dubai-based Fursan Hispania FC, alongside former footballers Michel Salgado and Fernando Hierro. The club’s youth development ambitions offer him a more direct role in the local game, using international football connections and technical experience to help develop young players and create pathways towards professional opportunities in Europe.

Carlos has also supported the Real Madrid Foundation’s work in the UAE through a partnership with ISD Sports City, helping launch an educational football programme at the ISD La Liga Academy campus. The initiative provides training for more than 1,000 young footballers.His work also includes youth clinics and appearances promoting Real Madrid World at Dubai Parks and Resorts, extending his involvement from football development into the UAE’s sports tourism sector.

8. Miralem Pjanić (February 2020)

Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanić received his Golden Visa in February 2020 while playing for Juventus, becoming one of the active European footballers included in the programme’s first sporting cohort. His subsequent career gave him a particularly direct connection with the Emirates when he left Barcelona in September 2022 to join Sharjah FC.Unlike recipients whose UAE relationships have centred mainly on visits and commercial appearances, Pjanić played in the UAE Pro League for two seasons between 2022 and 2024. His experience at Juventus and Barcelona brought elite European experience into the domestic competition, and he helped Sharjah win the UAE President’s Cup and the UAE League Cup.During his time in the country, Pjanić also had opportunities to mentor younger domestic players, sharing experience from years competing at the highest levels of European football. Following his UAE spell and later playing career, he maintained ties with Dubai and became involved with Mundial Football Academy, a venture focused on identifying and training grassroots talent using high-performance football methods.

9. Rio Ferdinand (2021)

Former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand transitioned to a permanent life in the UAE in August 2025, relocating his family to a £6.5 million mansion in Dubai’s luxury Al Barari community. This move followed his departure from his prominent UK punditry role at TNT Sports in May 2025. While he enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the region, this relocation marked the formal establishment of Dubai as the central base for his media work, business interests, and 10-year UAE Golden Visa residency framework.

Ferdinand has since actively scaled his digital media platform, Rio Presents, while anchoring himself in the UAE’s expanding creator economy. He was featured as a prominent fireside speaker at Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit, where he discussed the future of digital media and how modern creators can build sustainable international audiences independently of traditional television.Beyond media, his regional business activities extend into real estate through strategic partnerships with prominent firms like LEOS Developments. In the sports and tourism sector, he co-operates Football Escapes, a premium holiday football coaching concept that organizes youth camps led by UEFA-licensed former professionals at luxury resorts.Ferdinand and his wife, Kate, also engage with the local community through public wellness initiatives, including fitness events hosted at Jumeirah Beach near the Burj Al Arab.

10. Patrice Evra (2021)

Former Manchester United champion and French national team captain Patrice Evra was awarded his UAE Golden Visa back in 2021 under the exceptional-talent framework. . Since then, he has fully leaned into the local lifestyle, famously calling Dubai his “home sweet home” and basing himself out of a luxury penthouse on the Palm Jumeirah.Instead of just enjoying retirement, Evra has used his long-term visa to pivot into a serious second career as a Dubai-based entrepreneur. He has set up several companies in the UAE covering everything from beauty and fitness to deep tech. In fact, while speaking at regional business events like the Invest in Sharjah forum and Token2049 Dubai, he pointed out just how much of a game-changer the region’s geography is for a global business. He noted that with nearly two-thirds of the world’s population sitting within an eight-hour flight, running a global empire from Dubai feels a world away from his old days managing companies in the UK, where he felt entirely isolated from fast-growing markets like Asia.

Lately, Evra has been bridging the gap between real estate and sports technology. He officially partnered with UAE developer Major Developments as a core project partner for Colibri Views, a massive new high-rise project at RAK Central in Ras Al Khaimah. Evra actually designed the crown jewel of the tower himself: the UAE’s very first rooftop Footbot simulator. It’s an AI-driven, high-tech football arena packed with smart motion sensors and performance tracking to help residents train like elite pros.On top of the commercial tech, he is also focused on grassroots football through his Dubai-based project, Love This Game FC. The whole idea is to scout and train young local talent in the UAE, giving them a real pathway to score professional trials over in Europe and the UK.

Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on the 1,000-goal milestone, with just 19 more goals to go, while continuing to lead the line for Riyadh-based Al-Nassr following his high-profile arrival in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Since then, he has helped the club compete for major honours, while his contract extension until 2027 has secured his future in Saudi football for the coming seasons.But while Ronaldo’s achievements in Saudi Arabia are well documented, his connection with the neighbouring UAE goes back much further. In February 2020, nearly three years before joining Al-Nassr, he received the UAE Golden Visa in recognition of his sporting stature, under a programme introduced in 2019 to attract exceptional international talent.What makes his case particularly interesting is that his award was linked to his achievements as an athlete, rather than the more familiar routes involving property investment or business ownership. So, how did Ronaldo qualify for one of the UAE’s most sought-after residency options without playing for a club in the Emirates, and can he retain it while living and working in Saudi Arabia?

Ronaldo received the Golden Visa while playing for Juventus

When Cristiano Ronaldo received his UAE Golden Visa in February 2020, he was a 35-year-old Juventus forward living in Italy, with no immediate plans to take his football career to the Middle East. His recognition came at a time when the UAE was broadening its long-term residency programme to attract talent beyond the investors, entrepreneurs and business professionals who had traditionally been among its main beneficiaries. Under the expanded scheme, distinguished international athletes could also be considered for long-term residency, giving the country a new way to attract high-profile names from the world of sport.

Ronaldo was among the first group of sporting figures recognised under this expanded category, alongside tennis champion Novak Djokovic and footballers Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Miralem Pjanić. The idea was to bring internationally recognised athletes closer to the Emirates, encouraging them to maintain ties with the country through regular visits, commercial opportunities and other professional connections.Ronaldo was a natural fit. He had become a regular visitor to Dubai and, just weeks before receiving the visa, had won the Best Men’s Player of the Year award at the Globe Soccer Awards on December 29, 2019, for a record sixth time. His achievements on the pitch gave the UAE a high-profile sporting figure to recognise, while his existing affection for Dubai made the connection all the more fitting.

What the UAE Golden Visa offers and who qualifies

The UAE introduced its Golden Residency programme in 2019 under an initiative announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the country’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler. Unlike ordinary residence permits tied to employers or local sponsors, the programme offers eligible foreign nationals long-term residency, allowing them to live, work, study and invest in the Emirates with greater independence.Under the current framework, eligible applicants can receive renewable residency for five or 10 years, depending on their category and the applicable conditions. The main benefits include:

Since its launch in 2019, the UAE Golden Visa programme has expanded to cover a much wider range of people, from investors in public investments and real estate to entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and exceptional talents such as athletes and figures in culture and the arts. Each category comes with its own eligibility criteria and application or nomination process, depending on the applicant’s background. In other words, there is no single route to securing a Golden Visa; the requirements depend on the category under which someone qualifies.

Why Ronaldo qualified without buying property in Dubai

As mentioned above, Ronaldo did not need to buy property in Dubai or make a qualifying financial investment to receive his Golden Visa. His route was based on his standing as an elite international athlete, following the UAE Cabinet’s expansion of the programme in early February 2020 to include distinguished sporting figures. With five Ballon d’Or awards to his name at the time, a record of success at clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, and an established international career with Portugal, Ronaldo had the sporting credentials to qualify under the newly expanded category. He would later invest in Dubai real estate, reportedly purchasing a luxury waterfront property on Jumeirah Bay Island in 2024 for an estimated €25 million to €30 million, but that came years after his Golden Visa was awarded.The move also reflects how the UAE’s approach to attracting talent has evolved over the years. Introduced in 2019, the Golden Visa has since become part of the country’s broader ambitions under its We the UAE 2031 vision, launched in November 2022. By opening the door to athletes, scientists and other exceptional talent, the UAE is looking beyond investors and entrepreneurs, recognising that people with global influence can also help raise its profile and support its ambitions beyond oil.For Ronaldo, the benefit was that he did not need to move his playing career to Dubai or join a UAE football club to qualify. The Golden Visa is a residency arrangement, not an employment contract, and eligible holders can spend extended periods outside the country without automatically losing their status under the usual six-month absence rule. That flexibility helps explain how a footballer based in Italy at the time could receive UAE residency and later move to Saudi Arabia without the two arrangements necessarily conflicting.For the UAE, an athlete of Ronaldo’s stature offered a way to attract global talent and put its Golden Visa programme on the international map. With his worldwide following and immense commercial appeal, he was a natural face for a scheme designed to look beyond business and investment.

Ronaldo’s connection with Dubai goes well beyond football

Ronaldo’s relationship with Dubai was well established long before he received the Golden Visa in 2020. The city had become a regular destination for family holidays, yacht outings and sporting events, while his CR7 brand, wider commercial interests and real estate investments in the Emirates have given him even more reason to keep coming back. With its luxury lifestyle and international business scene, Dubai was a natural fit for the football star.He has also built a friendly relationship with some of the city’s best-known figures, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince. The two have been spotted together on several occasions, from exercising at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex to meeting at Dubai’s Aura Skypool in January 2022. Ronaldo once shared a photograph of them on Instagram with the caption, “Always great to see you my friend @faz3.”His fondness for the city has never been much of a secret, either. At a fan event during Expo 2020 Dubai in January 2022, Ronaldo told the crowd: “I love Dubai. Because they treat me unbelievable. I love the people. I love the culture. And I come every year so its nice to be here.”Between family getaways, business ventures and property investments, Dubai has become much more than a holiday stop for Ronaldo. His longstanding connection with the city also helps explain why the UAE recognised him with a Golden Visa.

How Ronaldo can live in Riyadh and retain his UAE residency

Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia began with an agreement to join Al-Nassr on December 30, 2022, followed by his arrival in Riyadh and official unveiling on January 3, 2023. He and his entourage initially stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, with reports at the time describing a month-long stay costing around $300,000 and involving 17 suites, including a two-storey Kingdom Suite covering approximately 4,000 square feet.The family subsequently moved into an exclusive residential compound in Riyadh, which remains their principal base while Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr. He extended his contract in June 2025, committing to the Saudi club until 2027, and married Rodríguez in a private civil ceremony in Portugal on August 11, 2026, after their relationship began in 2016.

Ronaldo’s Saudi residency falls under the Gifted Residency category of the Saudi Premium Residency programme, which, much like the UAE Golden Visa, aims to attract exceptional international talent as part of the kingdom’s wider economic diversification plans. Unlike a standard athlete’s work visa tied to a club, it allows eligible holders to live in Saudi Arabia without an employer sponsor, sponsor family members and own property under the programme’s rules.This means Ronaldo can continue living in the kingdom even if he stops playing for Al-Nassr. The residency is renewable every five years, subject to the programme’s requirements, giving him a longer-term option to remain in Saudi Arabia. When he extended his Al-Nassr contract in 2025, Ronaldo also spoke about his desire to stay in the kingdom for the long term. He has further strengthened his ties to the country through luxury property investments, including a private island villa at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve development on the Red Sea coast.For someone based in Riyadh, Dubai is also an accessible destination, with direct flights typically taking around two hours. Ronaldo can maintain his Dubai connections through visits during breaks from club commitments without needing to make the Emirates his principal residence.More importantly, holding residency in one country does not automatically prevent someone from holding long-term residency in the other. The UAE Golden Visa and Saudi Premium Residency are separate programmes, and there is no general rule requiring holders to choose between the two. For Ronaldo, this means his UAE residency can remain a separate link to the Emirates while he lives and plays in Saudi Arabia, provided he continues to meet the relevant requirements for both. More than six years after receiving the Golden Visa, Ronaldo’s case shows how sporting recognition can create lasting ties with a country, even when his career and home are now firmly rooted across the border in Saudi Arabia.

NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed seven interested parties for the 2036 Summer Olympics: India, Germany, Qatar, South Korea, South Africa, Türkiye and Hungary. With the process currently at the dialogue stage, the bids will be shortlisted in March 2027, preferred hosts will be identified in December 2028, and the host will be announced in mid-2029.Germany’s candidate is Munich; South Korea’s project is associated with Jeonju and Jeonbuk, as well as Seoul; Qatar’s is centred on Doha; and South Africa is considering a multi-city or nationwide model. Hungary has designated Budapest as its central venue, while Türkiye is planning to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in Istanbul and India in Ahmedabad.

South Korea

South Korea is no stranger to hosting the Olympics. Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics, a landmark event in the country’s emergence on the international stage. PyeongChang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, giving the country experience of hosting both the Summer and Winter Games.What is South Korea’s 2036 project?

The domestic selection process produced a significant change in direction. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee selected Jeonbuk (North Jeolla Province), with Jeonju as its focal city, as the country’s domestic candidate. The wider discussion has also involved Seoul, which has its own infrastructure and Olympic legacy.Jeonbuk has been pushing an Olympic plan that uses venues across the province and other Korean cities, while Seoul’s supporters have argued that its existing facilities and transport infrastructure make it a more credible option.The regional approach could distribute the benefits of the Games beyond the capital. It also raises a practical question: how will the country present a single, coherent proposal to the IOC when different domestic stakeholders have championed different hosting models?What should Ahmedabad learn from South Korea?South Korea’s advantage is its proven experience in delivering the Olympics. Ahmedabad, by contrast, is building its case around the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the possibility of using the Olympics to transform India’s sporting ecosystem.The comparison, therefore, is not simply about how many stadiums each city has. It is about whether Ahmedabad can offer the IOC an equally convincing account of how the venues will work, how athletes will move between them, and what will remain after the Games.

Qatar

Qatar is selling accumulated investment and operational readiness. Rather than making the Olympics the starting point for a major infrastructure build-out, it wants to demonstrate that much of the necessary infrastructure is already in place.Doha previously sought to host the Summer Olympics in 2016 and 2020 but failed to reach the final stage of either selection process. The 2016 project was rejected at the applicant stage, while the 2020 campaign did not make the final group of candidate cities.Since then, Qatar has substantially expanded its major-event credentials. Its record includes:– The 2022 FIFA World Cup.– The 2023 AFC Asian Cup.– The 2024 World Aquatics Championships.– The 2030 Asian Games, which Qatar is scheduled to host.This record gives Qatar something that a first-time Olympic host cannot easily replicate: experience in managing a major-event ecosystem, including stadiums, accommodation, transport, broadcasting and international sporting operations.What is Qatar’s 2036 project?

Qatar’s pitch is centred on Doha and the wider metropolitan area, with Lusail and Al Rayyan among the locations relevant to its existing sports infrastructure.The Qatar Olympic Committee has said that approximately 95% of the required sports infrastructure is already available. The final project will still need to establish the suitability of venues, their capacity, operating arrangements and any gaps that must be addressed.Its approach is tied to Qatar National Vision 2030, with an emphasis on sustainability, inclusion, legacy and limiting unnecessary construction. The country is also looking to build on the facilities and experience developed for the 2022 World Cup.One important complication is the calendar. Doha’s summer temperatures could make a conventional July-August Olympics difficult. Qatar’s 2022 World Cup was moved to November and December because of the heat, and a Summer Olympics in Qatar would face a comparable question about competition conditions and scheduling.What should Ahmedabad learn from Qatar?

Qatar sets the benchmark for infrastructure readiness and delivery experience. Its challenge is not whether it can build major sports facilities, but whether it can make the case for a Summer Olympics that meets athletes’ needs, accounts for the climate and delivers an enduring public legacy.Ahmedabad can counter with a different argument: hosting would accelerate the development of a sports ecosystem in a country with a vast population and a large potential athlete base. However, the Indian proposal will need to be precise about which facilities already exist, which are planned and how each investment will be used after 2036.Qatar’s experience also offers a warning for India: successfully delivering one mega-event does not, by itself, settle questions about long-term legacy, sustainability or international scrutiny.

Munich, Germany

Munich, which hosted the 1972 Games, wants to show that a modern Olympics need not be a giant construction project. Its proposition centres on existing venues, short distances, a familiar Olympic setting and the conversion of Games infrastructure into long-term public assets.The year 2036 has particular significance: it would fall exactly 100 years after the Berlin Games, which the Nazi regime exploited for propaganda. This gives Germany an opportunity to frame the event around democratic values and a very different modern identity, but it also makes the anniversary politically sensitive.Germany’s domestic selection process was competitive. Munich defeated Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr in the German Olympic Sports Confederation’s selection, winning by 90 votes to 51. Hamburg’s earlier plans had been rejected in a referendum, while Berlin withdrew its proposal. Munich was eventually selected as Germany’s candidate for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Games.What is Munich’s 2036 project?

The German Olympic Sports Confederation’s official concept, Munich for Germany, has several distinguishing features:– Existing facilities: The Olympic Park, which hosted events in 1972, is the centrepiece.– Short distances: Munich wants to keep a large proportion of competition venues within a compact geographical area.– A recognisable city setting: Locations such as the English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace and Odeonsplatz feature in the wider vision.– Post-Games housing: The Olympic and Paralympic Village is intended to become a climate-neutral, accessible neighbourhood for more than 10,000 people.– Sustainability: The bid promotes the circular use of resources and a legacy that extends beyond the event itself.The DOSB says approximately half of all competitions would take place in the Olympic Park. The concept is intended to reduce the need for new construction and make use of Munich’s existing sporting infrastructure.Munich’s domestic public mandate is also notable: 66.4% of residents voted in favour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in a referendum.What should Ahmedabad learn from Munich?Munich’s strongest argument is that it may not need to build as much as its rivals. That is a direct challenge to Ahmedabad’s model. India’s plans involve a major programme of urban development and sports infrastructure around the city. Munich, by contrast, is presenting existing venues and legacy reuse as competitive advantages.For Ahmedabad, the lesson is to explain not just how much infrastructure will be developed, but also how much can be reused, how much it will cost to maintain and what the city will gain in return. A compelling Olympic proposal must be an urban development plan as well as a sports master plan.

South Africa

South Africa wants to bring the Summer Olympics to Africa for the first time. Its case combines the symbolic significance of being the first African host with the country’s existing experience of delivering major international sporting events.South Africa has never hosted an Olympic Games. Its major-event record includes the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.The latter is especially relevant because it demonstrated the country’s ability to stage a global event across multiple venues and cities. It also offers an example of how a major tournament can be used to develop or upgrade infrastructure.The country has explored hosting the Olympics for several years, with the government approving its entry into the IOC’s Continuous Dialogue process for a potential 2036 or 2040 Games.What is South Africa’s 2036 project?

The proposal initially outlined by South African Olympic leadership is a multi-city model involving Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.The logic is to distribute venues and responsibilities across existing urban centres rather than force the entire event into one city. It draws inspiration from the use of multiple locations at Paris 2024 and aims to make greater use of existing facilities.The three cities offer different strengths:– Cape Town: A globally recognisable setting and a proposed centre of the national project.– Johannesburg: Major-event experience and established sporting infrastructure, including FNB Stadium.– Durban: Existing major sports facilities, including Moses Mabhida Stadium.The final configuration remains subject to development. South African officials have also indicated that a preferred host city would need to be selected as the project progresses.What should Ahmedabad learn from South Africa?South Africa and India are both trying to make a larger historical argument through the Olympics. For South Africa, success would mean hosting the first Summer Olympics on African soil. For India, it would mean hosting the country’s first Olympic Games and taking a major step towards its ambition of becoming a global sporting power.Both can argue that hosting would expand participation and create a wider sporting legacy. Both also need to show that their national ambitions are backed by credible funding, reliable governance and realistic plans for coordinating the host locations.The key distinction is that South Africa’s project is explicitly designed to spread the Games across multiple cities. India’s proposal is centred on Ahmedabad, even though the benefits of hosting would be national.

Türkiye

Istanbul is trying to turn repeated Olympic disappointment into a stronger, more mature proposal, using existing infrastructure and upcoming international events to demonstrate readiness. Istanbul has made five previous unsuccessful attempts to host the Summer Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2020.The 2020 campaign is especially relevant because Istanbul reached the final vote, finishing behind Tokyo. The city therefore has experience of an Olympic campaign at the highest level but has yet to convince the IOC to award it the Games.Türkiye’s current bid process has been underway for several years. The Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) says it formally backed Istanbul’s candidacy in April 2024 and entered the IOC’s Continuous Dialogue process.What is Türkiye’s 2036 project?Istanbul’s proposal combines existing venues and infrastructure with a wider national effort to demonstrate its ability to organise major competitions.The city’s Olympic authorities, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Turkish Paralympic Committee have been involved in presenting the project’s vision to the IOC. Their work has addressed the expected impact of the Games, the legacy plan and the relationship between the Olympic project and Istanbul’s urban development objectives.The most important practical milestone is the 2027 European Games, which Türkiye intends to use as a rehearsal for its Olympic ambition.

TMOK has described the event as a live rehearsal and a test of confidence. The intention is to demonstrate venue readiness, transport and logistics, operational capacity and the ability to work with international sporting bodies before the IOC makes its decision on the 2036 Games.Türkiye’s government has also pointed to its experience of hosting major sporting competitions, ongoing investment in swimming facilities and the availability of an Olympic Village. Those claims will need to be assessed alongside the complete competition-venue plan and the wider logistics of the proposed Games.What should Ahmedabad learn from Türkiye?Istanbul’s advantage is that it has repeatedly pursued the Olympics and understands the demands of the bidding process. However, its history also demonstrates that persistence and a strong city identity do not guarantee success.The 2027 European Games offer a useful parallel with Ahmedabad’s role in the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Both cities have a major multisport event that can serve as evidence of their ability to host something larger.For Ahmedabad, the critical question will be whether the Commonwealth Games become a genuine test of operational readiness and long-term planning, rather than simply a milestone on the way to an Olympic bid.

Hungary

Hungary is exploring a bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Budapest, with a vision centred on existing and temporary venues rather than the construction of new permanent stadiums. The proposed model envisages at least 80% of events taking place in Hungary, with the possibility of sharing venues with neighbouring countries.Budapest has pursued Olympic hosting ambitions for the 1916, 1920, 1936 and 1960 Games, but none resulted in the city being awarded the event. Its most recent campaign was for the 2024 Olympics, but it was withdrawn in February 2017 after the Momentum Movement gathered approximately 266,000 signatures demanding a referendum on the proposal.Since then, Hungary has hosted several major international sporting events, including the 2017 and 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2023 World Athletics Championships. These events have strengthened the country’s experience in organising international competitions, although an Olympic bid would still require broad political consensus and firm financial guarantees.What is Hungary’s 2036 project?The proposed Games would draw on Hungary’s existing sporting infrastructure, including Puskás Aréna, the National Athletics Centre, MVM Dome and Duna Aréna. Where suitable facilities are unavailable, organisers could consider temporary venues or explore sharing facilities with other countries. Preliminary discussions have included possible venues in Vienna, Bratislava, Košice, Brno, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade and Cluj-Napoca, although no final agreements have been reached.What should Ahmedabad learn from Hungary?

Hungary’s proposition is about hosting the Olympics with less new permanent construction, while Ahmedabad’s is about using the Olympics to accelerate sporting and urban development.– Venues: Hungary prioritises existing and temporary facilities, potentially supplemented by venues across Central Europe. Ahmedabad’s plans centre on a proposed sports enclave and wider infrastructure development.– Legacy: Hungary emphasises avoiding underused stadiums and investing in infrastructure that Budapest already needs. Ahmedabad frames the Games as a catalyst for wider participation and India’s sporting ambitions.– Experience: Hungary has recently staged major international championships. Ahmedabad’s 2030 Commonwealth Games offer an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to deliver a multisport event.– Main obstacle: Hungary needs political agreement and a workable cross-border model. Ahmedabad needs to demonstrate that its infrastructure plans, funding, governance and operational capabilities can meet Olympic requirements.– The key contrast: Hungary asks whether the Olympics can be staged with minimal new permanent stadium construction. Ahmedabad asks whether the Olympics can justify and accelerate a major programme of development.

What is Ahmedabad’s plan for the 2036 Games?

India’s campaign is framed around the vision “Rising Together” and the idea that hosting the Games could transform the country’s sporting ecosystem, rather than merely stage a fortnight of competition. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has described the ambition as an opportunity to increase participation, strengthen communities and create opportunities through sport.IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer has also made the ambition explicit: India wants to become a sporting superpower, with the longer-term goal of entering the world’s top five or top 10 sporting nations.India’s own project– Sports City: Plans associated with the Commonwealth Games include 11 sports complexes and complementary facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and training spaces.– Municipal investment: Ahmedabad’s draft municipal budget for 2026-27 earmarked ₹17,018 crore for development, including mobility, sustainability and urban development.– 2030 Commonwealth Games: These provide a nearer-term opportunity to test venue delivery and event operations.– 2038 Asian Games: India has also pursued Ahmedabad as a possible host, potentially creating a sequence of major multisport events leading towards the Olympic ambition.

PUNE: “Mi majhya Bappala sodnar nahi… majha Bappa mala saglyat jasti avadto (I will not leave my Bappa; I really like him),” a five-year-old girl tells her parents, clutching her little Ganpati idol tightly to her chest.Her parents try to explain that Bappa has to go now and will return next year. But she refuses to let go. Her eyes fill with tears as the Ganpati visarjan procession moves closer.A policeman on duty notices her.He bends down, speaks gently to her and tries to console her. “Bappa pudchya varshi parat yeil (Bappa will surely return the following year),” he tells her.For the little girl, it is a difficult goodbye. For the policeman, it is one of many such moments he will encounter on Pune’s streets as the city prepares for the Ganpati visarjan.Thousands will take to the streets, chanting, dancing and bidding an emotional farewell to Bappa. Police personnel, meanwhile, will spend the day managing crowds, regulating traffic, helping lost children find their families and responding to emergencies.And as one policeman helps a child say goodbye to her beloved Bappa, his own child may be waiting for him at home.For police and emergency personnel, festivals often mean long hours on duty while their families celebrate without them. Their children may wait for them to return, their families may eat the festive meal without them, and celebrations at home may have to wait.Yet on the streets, they remain where they are needed, making sure that thousands of other families can celebrate safely.Because while Pune says goodbye to Bappa, those in uniform quietly put their own celebrations aside.For them, duty comes first, even on a day when every family wants to be together.

From Tilak’s public festival to Pune’s visarjan tradition

Pune’s association with Ganeshotsav goes back centuries, with the festival gaining a new public and nationalist character during the freedom movement under Bal Gangadhar Tilak.Pune’s Bhau Saheb Rangari Ganpati is widely regarded as the first sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, and the festival has since become deeply woven into the city’s cultural identity.

Today, Pune’s Ganpati celebrations are defined by the five Manache Ganpati, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati, grand visarjan processions and the thousands who line the city’s streets to watch the idols make their final journey.From Laxmi Road to Alka Chowk, dhol-tasha pathaks and chants of “Morya Re Bappa Morya Re” turn the city into one giant celebration.But behind the spectacle is another story, one that unfolds largely away from the cameras.

3,500 cameras, 10,000 personnel, and a city ready to move

Every year, as thousands take to the streets for visarjan, a vast network of police personnel, traffic cops, fire brigade teams, civic workers and other agencies work through the day and night to keep the celebrations safe and orderly.They are the people behind the curtain: clearing a route for a procession, responding to an emergency or keeping traffic moving, even as their own families wait for them at home.Pune Police will monitor the immersion processions through a centralised system at Shivajinagar headquarters and a dedicated war room at Faraskhana police station.Around 3,500 CCTV cameras with AI-based analytics, drones and surveillance vehicles will track crowds, suspicious activity and incidents, while GPS devices will help monitor Ganpati processions in real time.

An ANPR system will detect traffic violations, and public-address systems at 250 locations will be used for crowd management and emergency announcements.More than 10,000 police, home guards, SRPF personnel and other security staff will be deployed for bandobast duty.Along with this, Traffic police have closed some major roads to traffic, including Laxmi Road, Chhatrapati Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road, from 5pm onwards.With elaborate arrangements in place, Pune is all set to bid goodbye to Bappa this year.But behind the elaborate arrangements is a quieter question: what does it take to remain devoted to duty when it means missing time with your own family?

When Ganpati calls, family has to wait

Sunil Jaitapurkar, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Zone 4, Yerwada division of Pune, said the police force has made a commitment to society to ensure that people remain safe and secure, with duty taking precedence above all else.He said service is always a first priority for them and they surely cannot compromise on that.“Family time is always secondary when you are handling public events, particularly the biggest festival of Maharashtra. One has to sacrifice family time and family celebrations to make sure that the public experiences a safe and secure procession,” he said.“One needs to have a very clear mind when serving the country. We cannot afford to think emotionally when thousands of people look at us with hope and trust,” the ACP added.For these officials, one mantra is clear: people can celebrate with their families because they are out doing their duty. But what would happen if police officials chose to celebrate festivals with their own families? For Ganesh More, a retired ACP from Pune’s Daund division, this sense of responsibility became a defining part of his career and kept him committed to the police force until retirement.He said serving officers mostly do not have a choice when it comes to deployment.“One has to sacrifice the idea of ‘family time’ when serving the nation. We always knew what we were getting ourselves into. Family time and enjoying a festival with our families are privileges that we surely crave most of the time.”

For families of police personnel, learning to celebrate without them often becomes part of life.Madhu More, wife of Ganesh More, said the family gradually gets accustomed to the fact that “they won’t be here for celebrations.”Yet, she said, she always admired her husband’s commitment to the uniform.“I always admired him for his loyalty towards his duty, his passion. Till the time he retired, he made sure to follow his duty with grace. Even after retirement, he and his batchmates meet every Wednesday to plan and do something,” Madhu said with a soft laugh.But a life devoted to duty also left behind some bittersweet memories, moments when the family needed him, but his duty came first.“It was on Visarjan day that I went into labour during my second delivery. I really wanted him to be beside me, but he just couldn’t make it,” she said.For the public, however, the presence of these personnel is also a source of reassurance during the festival.With people from across India travelling to Pune for Ganpati, police officers often become the first point of contact for visitors looking for directions, assistance or even basic information.Nilesh Mahajan, a fire officer who has been serving the city for more than 20 years, said with a faint smile that his family has now grown accustomed to his demanding schedule.“Our main goal has always been to ensure that the celebrations do not face any mishap. There is a lot of planning that goes into it, and my team and I are always ready on the ground to provide assistance,” Mahajan said.For personnel like Mahajan, public holidays often mean another day at work. But he and his colleagues have come to take pride in that responsibility.For Mahajan, the commitment to public service is also a family legacy. His father served in the fire brigade for 32 years, and Mahajan said he knew from the beginning what the profession would demand of him.“My family feels very proud that we serve the public,” he said.

A procession that runs for hours

Thousands will gather in the lanes of Budhwar Peth to witness Pune’s famous visarjan celebrations, the dhol-tasha pathaks, the processions and the spectacle that draws people from across the city.But making a celebration of this scale move so seamlessly requires more than just elaborate planning. It requires people willing to spend hours in uniform, away from their own families, while helping everyone else experience the festival.For these personnel, the celebration is experienced differently. They watch Bappa’s farewell not from within the crowd as devotees, but from behind the scenes, managing the very crowds that have come to witness it.

In a way, they celebrate Bappa alongside thousands of strangers, while their own families now celebrate mostly without them.Varad Tornekar, a member of a dhol-tasha pathak, said being part of the procession gave him a firsthand view of both its energy and its challenges.“As a performer, I have personally experienced the energy and challenges of the festival. Performing in crowded streets has taught me discipline, teamwork and awareness of the people around me. Seeing everyone work together to ensure safety makes the experience truly memorable,” he said.He said the smooth movement of such large processions also depends on the presence of police, ambulances, medical teams, fire brigade personnel and volunteers who remain alert throughout the celebrations.For Punekars, the scale of the procession also comes with a sense of familiarity with how the city manages the crowds. One of the most admired aspects is the cooperation among participants, with people often making way for smaller private Ganpatis even during larger processions.Dipti Kulkarni, a resident of Dahanukar Colony, Kothrud, said, “One thing I truly appreciate about Pune’s Visarjan celebrations is how well organized they are.”“On more than one occasion, ambulances have been given a clear path through the procession, showing the discipline and cooperation of both organizers and participants,” she added.Dipti said the spirit of inclusiveness and cooperation among participants is what makes Pune’s visarjan celebrations stand out.Another resident, Mubarak Ansari, an entrepreneur and senior journalist, said the real challenge of Pune’s Visarjan Miravnuk lies in managing its sheer scale.“When you see such a huge procession moving through the city for hours, involving thousands of devotees, vehicles, crowds and multiple sensitive points, maintaining law and order is a tremendous responsibility. Yet, year after year, the procession has been managed without any major mishap,” he said.“For me, the real success of Pune’s Visarjan Miravnuk is not just the scale of the celebration, but the fact that such a massive public gathering can be conducted with discipline, coordination and safety,” he added.

The last procession passes. Their duty may not be over

Pune has witnessed the grandeur of Ganpati celebrations for generations. For many young Punekars, watching the visarjan procession, following the dhol-tasha pathaks and soaking in the infectious energy has become an annual tradition.But for those in uniform, the celebration comes with a different responsibility. Their place is often not in the crowd, but beside it, keeping the roads moving, responding to emergencies and making sure thousands can experience Bappa’s farewell safely.Perhaps that is what makes their journey through the festival so remarkable. The promise they made when they first put on the uniform, to serve, protect and respond when their city needs them, continues even when duty means missing moments with their own families.And as Pune chants “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!”, they will remain on the streets, watching Bappa leave with everyone else, before eventually heading home to their own families.Because for them, too, this is a celebration of Bappa. Just one where duty becomes their way of offering seva.