The unveiling of the 92-year-old Lalbaugcha Raja iconic pandal on Sunday has heralded the beginning of the city’s most anticipated Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, drawing thousands of devotees for a first glimpse of the magnificent 14-foot deity. The festival, which begins on Wednesday, is set to attract over one million visitors to the iconic pandal in Parel over its ten-day duration.
This year’s idol, sculpted by Santosh Ratnakar Kambli of Murtikar Shree Kambli Arts, is themed on ‘Tirupati Balaji’, a departure from previous designs, as per The Indian Express. The revered Ganesha is depicted seated against a resplendent golden backdrop, adorned in a rani-pink velvet dhoti and an angavastram featuring the SriVari namam, the distinctive mark associated with Lord Venkateswara. In two of his hands, he holds a chakra and a conch shell, traditional symbols of divinity and protection.
As reported by The Indian Express, the concept for the theme was decided by the pandal organisers and communicated to Kambli, whose family has been the sole sculptor of the Lalbaugcha Raja idol since its inception. The intricate work took over a month to complete. The idol is flanked by golden pillars topped with sculptures of elephants and a mouse, his vaahan (vehicle), creating the aura of a royal palace.
The Lalbaugcha Raja holds a unique status as ‘Navasacha Ganpati’ or the wish-fulfilling Ganesha. Its origins, as detailed by The Indian Express, date back to 1934. It was established by the Koli community and local traders in gratitude after their prayers for a permanent marketplace were answered, following the closure of the Peru Chawl market in 1932. What began as a humble act of devotion has since grown into Mumbai’s most iconic public festival.
The mandal has made specific arrangements for the expected crowds. Darshan will commence on August 27 and continue until September 6, when the idol will be immersed at Girgaon Chowpatty in a grand procession. Devotees can opt for the lengthy queue for charan sparsh darshan, which allows them to touch the idol’s feet, or the shorter mukh darshan for a view from a distance. For those unable to attend physically, a live online darshan will be streamed 24 hours a day on lalbaugcharaja.com and social media platforms, as cited by The Indian Express.
In a clear statement, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has taken to social media to quash recurring rumours, declaring that it “does not issue any VIP darshan passes or charge money for darshan”.
The area around the pandal transforms into a vibrant carnival for the festival’s duration. While permanent eateries like Ladu Samrat, famed for its vada pav, see massive queues, countless temporary stalls spring up offering a variety of snacks and meals.
The mandal also advises devotees to use public transport, with the nearest railway stations being Chinchpokli, Currey Road and Byculla on the central line and Lower Parel on the western line. Those travelling by car are warned to expect severe traffic congestion, diversions and a lack of parking, The Indian Express reported.
The Lalbaugcha Raja is the centrepiece of a wider celebration in the locality, which includes other renowned pandals such as Mumbaicha Raja in Ganesh Galli, Chinchpoklicha Chintamani and Parelcha Raja, making the area the epicentre of Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav fervour.
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