Mumbai opens its heart and homes as Ganpati arrives today

MUMBAI: Lord Ganesh has arrived in puja pandals with fanfare and public darshan begins today after the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony. TOI offers a glimpse into mandals whose simplicity or grandeur deserves a visit this season
Chinchpoklicha Chintamani
Started in 1920, this well-known pandal in the Girangaon belt has stepped into its centenary year. The Chintamani lords over a royal setting, and this season, the organisers have carved the interiors of Pashupatinath temple. A large shivling is installed at a height on the main entrance with the family of Ganesh depicted in the background. The mandal has donated Rs 5 lakh to the CM’s Relief Fund to help the flood victims of Kolhapur and Sangli. Several thousand people turned out for a glimpse during the aagman or arrival procession

Makba Chawl Byculla
The colour white holds a charm like no other. Truly, the attractive 6.5ft Ganesh idol of Triveni building in Makba Chawl, which is embellished with 11,111 shells and 5,000 artificial pearls, is an ode to beauty. The young members of the 53-year-old mandal buy a raw idol and affix the decorative layers themselves. Spokesman Anurag Jaiswal says they are mindful to include a social message each year, and this time they will impress upon visitors the need to save water

Keshavji Naik Chawl Girgaum
This traditional Maharashtrian enclave was the first to heed Lokmanya Tilak’s call for public Ganeshotsav celebration. Keshavji Naik chawl started the festival in 1893, and 127 years later, it maintains the dignity of worship. The 2.25ft-tall idol is placed in a shrine inside the common courtyard shorn of extravagance. Last week, mandal karyakartas travelled to Kolhapur to distribute a computer, sound system, water purifier and stationery to students of a municipal school whose building was submerged under flood waters. NextGen residents of this chawl are now well-to-do professionals yet steadily faithful to the mandal’s ‘Constitution’ which contains guidelines for Ganeshotsav festivities

Khetwadi Cha Raja Girgaum
A golden jubilee celebration is under way in Khambata Lane in Girgaum that houses the 24ft-tall Khetwadi Cha Raja. Each Khetwadi lane has its own idol and none is smaller than 15ft, rues mandal advisor Niranjan Dikshit who belongs to the old school of modest festivals. President Pawan Sharma outlines their welfare works this season, including a blood donation camp. Members also distributed fruits and biscuits to JJ Hospital patients

GSB King’s Circle
The five-day festival of the wealthiest Ganpati in Mumbai is insured for Rs 266.65 crore, says mandal representative RG Bhat. Its moorti is fashioned south Indian style and laden with up to 65-70kg of gold jewellery from crown to foot. This is the 65th year of celebration for the King’s Circle Ganesh where thousands of devotees arrive to perform a variety of pujas every day. Spokesman Satish Nayak says 10,000-12,000 visitors partake of prasad meals in their vast langar or community kitchen

Fortcha Raja
This socially conscious mandal turns 58 this year with an evocative theme on the sorry condition of farmers in the state. The son of the soil is shown seeking blessings of its 22ft-tall Ganesh while the picture of a woman bearing a pot of water is framed on the backdrop. Spokesman Nayan Dumbre says they have minimised decorations and embellishments this year for two reasons—to divert funds to families affected by floods in Kolhapur and Sangli, and because advertisement revenue has steadily dropped since demonetisation and GST

Lal Maidan Parel
Another hoary mandal of the millworkers’ belt, the Lal Maidan Ganpati in Parel turns 73 this year. The intricate interiors of a Jaipur palace are taking shape at this open ground courtesy artisan Sandeep Jain, and interestingly, the moorti is crafted by 16 local youth affiliated with the mandal. Given that visitors dressed in festive finery may be deterred by the muddy wet ground, Lal Maidan instals a vast wooden platform at a cost of over Rs 5 lakh each year