A confluence of an unexpectedly early high tide and significant technical challenges delayed the immersion of Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja by over twelve hours, culminating in a dramatic Arabian Sea ceremony long after sunset on Sunday.
The idol, one of Mumbai’s most revered during the Ganesh festival, finally commenced its final journey from Girgaon Chowpatty at approximately 9.15 pm, a stark contrast to its typical pre-9 am immersion. As per a Live Mint report, the spectacle was marked by chants from thousands of devotees, drum beats and crackers as a specially constructed raft, pulled by fishermen's boats and escorted by police, carried the deity into the deep sea.
The prolonged delay, described by officials as "among the most delayed immersions of the idol", ws attributed to a 4.42-metre high tide that began earlier than anticipated. The immersion procession itself had arrived 10-15 minutes later than planned, according to Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal honorary secretary Sudhir Salavi.
Initial attempts to immerse the idol failed repeatedly throughout the morning. The surge of seawater caused by the high tide rose to the waist of the idol, making the raft unstable and difficult to manoeuvre. A sudden surge caused the platform carrying the idol to float erratically, preventing it from being properly aligned with the transport raft.
“We attempted to immerse the idol initially, but soon realised it wasn't working properly, so we decided to stop,” Salavi told reporters. “Local fishermen advised us that the raft would be able to float during the next high tide.”
For nearly three hours, the idol remained stranded in just a few feet of shallow water, supported by 15 to 20 volunteers and local fishermen as a sea of onlookers watched. The Mandal functionaries and officials present ultimately opted for caution, deciding to wait for the tide to recede.
The turning point came as the sea water level rose again between 7 pm and 8 pm, allowing the raft to finally float. At 4.45 pm, after several failed attempts, the idol had been successfully moved to a newly constructed raft with the help of hundreds of volunteers and fishermen.
This feat elicited wild cheers from the massive crowd, with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and “Lalbaugcha Rajacha Vijay Aso” filling the air, Live Mint reported. The immersion marked the end of a grand procession that had begun from Lalbaug at 12.30 pm on Saturday, more than 32 hours earlier.
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