Being the financial hub of the country, Mumbai shows extravagance in the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. It is one of the most popular festivals of India and is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm by the people of Maharashtra, with utmost dedication and devotion.
At this time of the year, the streets of Mumbai bustle outs with people, the devotees and huge ‘pandals’ (canopies and stages) are set for housing the idols of Lord Ganesha, who is Lord of bright beginnings, wisdom, good fortune and prosperity. This is the time when every nook and corner of the Mumbai city is flooded with the festive fever. Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, preparations, excitement and enthusiasm can be seen all over.
The preparations for this grand celebration start about two-three months before. The artisans start crafting clay models much before. The idol of Lord Ganesha is placed on elevated stages, houses and canopies, beautifully decorated, for the people to come and pray on the main festive day. The priest carrying out all the auspicious activities wears a red silk ‘dhoti’ and chants several mantras in order to invoke life in the idol. This ritual is known as ‘Pranapratishtha’. After this, sixteen different types of tributes (according to the Hindu culture and customs) are paid to Lord Ganesha, which is known as the ‘Shhodashopachara’. While all this is rituals are being performed, hymns from the Rig Veda, Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesh Stotra are sung and chanted by the large groups of people. Later, towards the end of all the rituals, the idol of Lord Ganesha is smeared with red unguent (rakta chandan), by all the devotees present in large numbers there. At this particular moment there is red unguent all over and it seems as if the sky is red.
This celebration goes on till ten days with utmost devotion and passion with singing and dancing by the devotees on the streets on the drum beats. Lord Ganesha is worshipped with whole-hearted devotion in these ten days.
On the eleventh day, the immersion takes place, and the devotees carry their respective idols and statues with them, walking throughout the streets, singing and dancing to their heart’s content towards the waters. The biggest idol, that had been worshipped for the past ten days, in the streets, is carried on an elevated platform with wheels by hundreds of devotees pulling it. The enthusiasm and devotion of these people make it all the more energetic and pleasurable. All through the procession, the people yell “Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya”, which means “O father, Lord Ganesha, come again early next year”.
Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated in other parts of the country as well, but it in Maharashtra; it has its own magnificence and value. Not only are these celebrations religious but also different social groups rendering various free social services during the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. Some of these are free medical checkups, blood donation camps, charity for the needy, etc.
Mumbai being the city of entertainment, the entertainment quotient is high as well during these celebrations. There are dramatic performances, films and devotional songs all around, which makes the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai all the more worthwhile.
Decorated elevated stages with the idol of Lord Ganesha, known as ‘pandals’ are seen in the city. One of the most famous Pandals is ‘Lalbaug ka Raja Ganesha’.
Last Updated on 09/19/2011
The preparations for this grand celebration start about two-three months before. The artisans start crafting clay models much before. The idol of Lord Ganesha is placed on elevated stages, houses and canopies, beautifully decorated, for the people to come and pray on the main festive day. The priest carrying out all the auspicious activities wears a red silk ‘dhoti’ and chants several mantras in order to invoke life in the idol. This ritual is known as ‘Pranapratishtha’. After this, sixteen different types of tributes (according to the Hindu culture and customs) are paid to Lord Ganesha, which is known as the ‘Shhodashopachara’. While all this is rituals are being performed, hymns from the Rig Veda, Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesh Stotra are sung and chanted by the large groups of people. Later, towards the end of all the rituals, the idol of Lord Ganesha is smeared with red unguent (rakta chandan), by all the devotees present in large numbers there. At this particular moment there is red unguent all over and it seems as if the sky is red.
This celebration goes on till ten days with utmost devotion and passion with singing and dancing by the devotees on the streets on the drum beats. Lord Ganesha is worshipped with whole-hearted devotion in these ten days.
On the eleventh day, the immersion takes place, and the devotees carry their respective idols and statues with them, walking throughout the streets, singing and dancing to their heart’s content towards the waters. The biggest idol, that had been worshipped for the past ten days, in the streets, is carried on an elevated platform with wheels by hundreds of devotees pulling it. The enthusiasm and devotion of these people make it all the more energetic and pleasurable. All through the procession, the people yell “Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya”, which means “O father, Lord Ganesha, come again early next year”.
Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated in other parts of the country as well, but it in Maharashtra; it has its own magnificence and value. Not only are these celebrations religious but also different social groups rendering various free social services during the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. Some of these are free medical checkups, blood donation camps, charity for the needy, etc.
Mumbai being the city of entertainment, the entertainment quotient is high as well during these celebrations. There are dramatic performances, films and devotional songs all around, which makes the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai all the more worthwhile.
Decorated elevated stages with the idol of Lord Ganesha, known as ‘pandals’ are seen in the city. One of the most famous Pandals is ‘Lalbaug ka Raja Ganesha’.
Lalbaug Raja Ganesh
Lalbaug is a centrally located place in Mumbai. Since the old times, it has been famous for its get-togethers on different festivals, especially on the Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations are the most prominent in and around Lalbaug. It has the best of the sculpture workshops which make the best idols of the elephant-headed god. The ‘Sarvajanika Ganeshotsav Mandal’ was found in 1928 first. In 1932, the market at Peru Chawl was forcefully shutdown. So all the vendors and the fishermen would sit in open areas and prayed to Lord Ganesha to provide them a fixed market. The constant efforts of the then businessmen, made it possible, the prayers were heard and finally a new market was constructed for these vendors. Since their wishes were fulfilled, these people established the idol of Lord Ganesha on 12th September 1934. Since then it is believed that ‘Lalbaug Ganesha’ fulfills all the wishes. People from all over the world come to visit the ‘Lalbaug ka Raja’ and pray for the fulfillment of their wishes. Celebrities, business tycoons and all kinds of people belonging to different social ranks come here to pray. The immersion of the ‘Lalbaug ka Raja Ganesha’ takes place in a grand, royal manner. After consulting some experts, a large iron raft, known as a ‘tarafa’ is purchased by the Lalbaug organization, which makes the dissolving of the idol of Lord Ganesha possible into the deep sea water.Last Updated on 09/19/2011
| Festivals of India | |
