Why did Tilak Maharaj start public Ganesh festival in Maharashtra?

Home Minister Amit Shah said Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Maharaj started the public Ganesh festival in Maharashtra in 1893 to awaken cultural nationalism. Shah said that Tilak Maharaj understood that nation's awakening, culture and history could be strengthened through cultural nationalism. Shah added that he also started tradition of celebrating Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary.