Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja first look unveiled

MUMBAI: Frenzied devotion greeted the return of the Lalbaugcha Raja as the first look of the idol was unveiled Monday evening.
Festivities had been pared down in 2020-21 on account of the pandemic. Now in its 89th year, the Raja sits in a grand replica of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir designed by noted art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai.

The main entrance resembles a model of the temple, while the dome is recreated in the inner sanctum. Despite the restricted area of 26ft x 26ft, Desai's artistry gives the illusion of space.

He said, "That was our challenge, to work in such confines and yet achieve the grandeur of the original Ram Mandir. It took six months to actualise the dream, two each to design, fabricate and assemble. We have used a metal framework overlaid with fibre and GRC (glassfibre reinforced concrete)."
Mandal president Balasaheb Kamble said the 12ft idol is crafted by their long-time moortikar Santosh Kambli. "We have used eco-friendly material to craft the set in keeping with the government's advisory," he said.