TV actress Simran Budharup, known for her role in the popular show Pandya Store, recently shared a disturbing experience she had at Lalbaugcha Raja during the Ganesh festival. The actress visited the popular Mumbai Ganpati pandal with her mother to seek blessings, but what was supposed to be a peaceful and spiritual outing turned into an upsetting encounter with the staff. In a series of posts, Simran described the rude behavior of the staff, the mishandling of her mother, and how both of them were subjected to rough treatment, which left them shaken and disappointed.
The Incident
Simran visited Lalbaugcha Raja along with her mother for the darshan, a traditional visit to seek blessings. While waiting in the queue, Simran's mother, like many other devotees, tried to take a picture of the grand idol. However, things took a drastic turn when a staff member suddenly snatched her mother’s phone. As Simran recounted, this act was not only shocking but also aggressive.
Simran's mother tried to retrieve the phone but was pushed aside by the staff. Alarmed by this rough treatment, Simran stepped in to defend her mother and ask for an explanation. Unfortunately, instead of diffusing the situation, Simran was also met with harsh behavior. She was pushed and roughly handled by the bouncers. When she started recording the incident to document what was happening, the staff even attempted to snatch her phone. The video of the altercation is on social media.
Simran’s Reaction
Simran expressed her frustration and disbelief in a post on her Instagram, where she narrated the entire ordeal. In her words:
"Today, I visited Lalbagh Cha Raja with my mother to seek blessings, but our experience was marred by the unacceptable behavior of the staff. A man from the organization snatched my mother’s phone while she was clicking the picture (she was In The queue behind me not that she was taking any extra time as It was my turn for the Darshan), and when she tried to retrieve it, he pushed her. I intervened, and the bouncers rough-handled me, when I started recording this behavior of them they tried snatching my phone too (It’s In this video where I am yelling 'Mat Karo! Kya Kar Rahe ho aap'). It was only when they discovered I’m an actor that they backed off.”
This caption, posted alongside the video of the incident, highlighted the disrespect she and her mother had to endure at the hands of the staff. In the video, Simran can be heard shouting, "Mat Karo! Kya kar rahe ho aap?" a plea to stop the aggressive behavior.
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Reflection on the Experience
Simran’s post and the video went viral, drawing attention to the need for better management and respect for devotees attending such events. Reflecting on the incident, Simran emphasized that people visit such places with good intentions, seeking blessings and positivity. It’s a place of faith where one should feel peaceful, not be subjected to aggression or mistreatment.
The actress further explained that while she understands managing large crowds during festivals can be challenging, this does not excuse rude and harmful behavior by the staff. She said, "I understand that managing crowds is challenging, but it’s the staff’s responsibility to maintain order without misbehaving or harming devotees.”
Simran also mentioned that after the staff realized she was an actress, they backed off, but her point remains that such behavior should not happen to anyone, regardless of their status or identity.
Raising Awareness and Calling for Accountability
Through her social media post, Simran wanted to bring attention to the issue and demand accountability from the organizers. She urged the event organizers to train their staff better and ensure that visitors are treated with dignity and respect. She wrote:
"I’m sharing this to bring attention to the issue and hope it serves as a wake-up call for event organizers and staff to treat visitors with dignity and respect. Let’s work together to create a safer, more positive environment for everyone."
The hashtag she used, #RespectForDevotees, speaks volumes about her desire to bring about change, not just for her own experience but for all the devotees who visit such places to seek blessings.
Public Reaction and Support
Simran's fans and followers flooded her post with supportive comments, expressing outrage at the incident and calling for better management during such events. Many voiced their disappointment, remarking that such behavior tarnishes the experience of attending sacred places. Some of her followers even shared their own negative experiences at Lalbaugcha Raja, echoing Simran's concerns and calling for stricter regulations on how the staff handles devotees.
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