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With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, only 1,389 mandals in Mumbai have got permission to set up community pandals in the city by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The authorities have asked mandals to allow not more than five people inside pandals and appealed to organise online darshan for devotees. In line with this, some of the most famous Ganpati mandals in Mumbai, including Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, have been spreading the word on social media platforms about Lord Ganesha’s darshan online.
Here, you can get live darshan of some of the most famous Ganpati pandals in Mumbai.
1. Lalbaugcha Raja, Parel
Arguably the king of Ganeshotsav in Mumbai, the Lalbaugcha Raja is known as a wish-fulfilling and laddu-loving Ganesha. In the pre-pandemic time, the pandal would see long serpentine queues of people waiting to catch a glimpse of their beloved Bappa. However, due to COVID-19 outbreak, the pandal has gone online for public. This year, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has distributed only 3,500 passes for darshan to members of the mandal and those who donate to the mandal. Pre-pandemic, the mandal would establish a 15-feet-tall idol of Lord Ganesha, but this year, they have a four-feet-tall one.
2. GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati, King Circle
This is one of the wealthiest Ganpati mandals of Mumbai. The highlight of the GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati idol is that it eco-friendly and decorated with more than 60 kgs of gold. The idol is placed on a silver stage and throne. This Ganpati idol remains only for five days of the festival and is immersed in water on either the sixth day morning or the night of the fifth day.
3. Ganesh Galli, Parel
If you visit Lalbaugcha Raja, a tour of Ganesh Galli Ganpati is a must. Located a few lanes away from the Raja, this mandal would earlier pull great crowds, thanks to its out-of-the-box decoration themes. The mandal was set up for the benefit of the mill workers in the vicinity in 1928, and hence, it is the oldest idol in all of Parel, Mumbai.
4. Girgaoncha Raja, Girgaum
Established by the Nikadvari Lane Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in the city’s Girgaon area, Girgaoncha Raja idol’s major highlight is that, regardless of the size of the idol (which was earlier over 20 feet and now four), the Lord Ganesha idol is eco-friendly and carved in shadu maati (clay).
5. Andhericha Raja
The Ganpati idol is to the Mumbai western suburbs what the Lalbaugcha Raja is to the people of South Mumbai. Established in 1966 by the workers of a tobacco company, Tata Special Steel and Excel Industries Ltd, Andhericha Raja, much like the Lalbaugcha Raja, is known for fulfilling wishes of his devotees. This Ganesha idol stays throughout the Ganpati Festival and is taken for immersion on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, which is the last of the festival.
Photo: Unsplash/Hrutvikraj Mandekar