Mumbai Soaked in Joy of Ganesha Festival

Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 2: The entire city was decked in rich colours with chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Maurya' resounding in every nook and corner of Mumbai on Thursday September 1, as people gathered in lacs to welcome the first day of the 11-day Ganesh festival.

The financial capital wore a festive look, with people from all walks of life joining hands to hail the elephant god. Idols of all sizes and colours bedecked streets and homes, and in the evening the devotees performed the maha aarti.

Reports said that nearly two lac idols were installed across the city, of which 10,350 were at Ganesh Mandals. Some of these idols have been insured for crores of rupees, it is learnt. The GSB Mandal at King's Circle is said to have insured its pandal, devotees and the deity's ornaments for Rs 222 crore for a 15-day period.

The preparations for the festival, one of the major ones in Mumbai, have been going for several days. Last week over two lac idols arrived in the city from different places, and people were seen thronging the markets to buy the best idols.

Over 12,500 registered associations, apart from the 40,000 private housing complexes, have been preparing for the festival for the past few weeks.

Among the various pandals across the city, 'Lal Baughcha Raja' (King of Lalbaug area) in central Mumbai, with a 12-foot tall idol towering over the devotees, attracted huge crowds. The pandal was insured for Rs 14 crore.

The other popular mandals in the city include 'Ganesh Galli', just a stone's throw from the Lal Baughcha Raja, Khetwadicha Raja on Grant Road, and Chandanwadi Ganesh mandal in Kalbadevi.

Ganesh festival fever was evident among Bollywood stars too. Nana Patekar, Govinda and Jackie Shroff celebrated the festival with enthusiasm, and several Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, and Anupam Kher sent online greetings to their friends, family and fans.

In the wake of the July 13 blasts in Mumbai, security has been beefed up across the city for the festivities.