MUMBAI: As the festival of
Ganeshotsav approaches (September 13),
two mandals, one in Thakurdwar and the other in Borivli, are celebrating their
golden jubilee this season. Both have chosen to create palace decor to mark the moment.
The Borivlicha Raja of the Shiv Mitra Mandal is located outside Borivli station. "We have designed a peacock style Mayur Mahal. Our beautiful idol is sculpted by Rajan Khatu and the spectacular decoration of Mayur Mahal is designed by art director Aman Vidhate," said spokesman Pratik Pradhan.
Various cultural programmes will be organised during the ten days. "We are also lending a helping hand to the Adivasi community by free distribution of notebooks to needy students, free medical and eye camps, felicitation of meritorious students and cleanliness campaigns. Our golden jubilee has a heart not just pomp and show," says Pratik.
Meanwhile, a grand Peshwa style palace is being erected to mark 50 years of the Shree Dutta Mandir Ganeshotsav in Thakurdwar. "Fifty women from our chawl are practising to perform the lezim dance to welcome the deity. They will wear nine yard saris for the procession," said president Atul VedPathak.
Some seniors who founded the mandal in 1969 are still present to recount their stories. The festivities will include an 11 Ganesh Pujan, where 11 couples will perform rituals dedicated to the myriad forms of Ganesh. Luckily, the Thakurdwar lane, with its multiple temples dedicated to several deities, is spared the onslaught of the upcoming Metro Rail in Girgaum by a few hundred yards.
Borivlicha Raja mandal.
