Mumbaicha Raja to shrink to 4ft for first time in 93 years

MUMBAI: For the first time in 93 years since its inception, Ganesh Gully's Mumbaicha Raja has shrunk the size of its idol to a 4ft tall clay idol. The decision is in line with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's request to Ganpati mandals to hold low-key celebrations for the 10-day festival in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Ganeshtosav begins on August 22.
"Since we started sarvajanik Ganpati celebrations in 1927, this is the first time the darshan idol will shrink to such a small size," said Swapnil Parab, secretary of the Mumbaicha Raja Mandal of Ganesh Gully, Lalbaug. "Every year, we get two moortis-a 22ft tall idol for darshan and a smaller one for pooja. This year, due to the Covid outbreak, we decided to scale down celebrations, so we will be installing only a 4ft tall idol made of clay." He added that they will set up an immersion pond near the mandap and immerse the idol there as most visarjan sites like Girgaum Chowpatty may not be accessible this year.
Parab said they are working on making available live darshan for devotees on their phones so that they do not visit the pandal. During Ganeshotsav, the pandal sees 80,000 to 1 lakh people a day.
On Saturday, after a meeting between the CM and repr- esentatives of prominent Ganpati mandals, it was decided that there will be no 20-25 ft tall idols this year. Instead, mandals will install idols less than 5ft in height. The state was to issue detailed guidelines this week, but it hasn't so far. "Nearly 90% of Ganpati mandals have decided to install small idols this year. Most of them are restricting their idol height to 3-4ft. Also arrangements are being made to make live darshan available on the internet so that people do not step out," said Naresh Dahibavkar of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti. Lalbaughcha Raja organisers are, however, yet to take a decision. Sudhir Salvi of the mandal said they are awaiting the state guidelines.