GANESHOTSAV : Lalbaug cha Raja & Mumbai cha Raja

Ganeshotsav Mumbai - 2012

I had completed my engineering from Mumbai Fr.C.R.C.E. Bandra in 1998. And it was long time that I had met any friend from that class and institute. Last year due to social networking site Facebook I met two of favorite buddies Rajiv Sharma and Jayesh Kharote from that college and had a very good time in a Hotel in MIDC Andheri. After having around good two hours we promised that we will meet often to start social relationship once again with our families. Still that process is on and in a nascent stage as time in Mumbai is more precious than anything else. And if there is room for time than demon of traffic   and other family commitments does not allow these things to happen.

After that meeting last year my friend Rajiv Sharma suffered from slip disc in  February and then I and Jayesh Kharote went to meet him in hospital. Again we three gathered and decided that we are going to meet once again. 

Last year I went to see the Famous Ganapati Mandals of Mumbai at midnight along with another friend named Rajesh Sargaiya. We had a good time and in around 4 hours we had  seen 5 to 6 big Ganapatis. This year also my plan was to call him but unfortunately he couldn't be contacted. 

This year , I called Rajiv one month before Ganeshotsav to say that I am going to visit Lalbaug cha Raja ( Most famous and biggest Ganapati mandals in the country ) and nearby famous Ganapati Mandals probably on the second day of the festival. Darshan of Lalbaugh cha Raja itself takes more than 5 - 6 hours minimum in a day. Remaining Mandals are OK and can be managed. I told him that if we reach at midnight the rush would be less and our darshan would happen quickly within two hours. He told me that it will minimum  take 10 - 15 hours for the darshan and he being suffering from slip disc cannot stand for that long. But in turn I told that I was confident that maximum it will take 2 - 3 hours. And both were rigid on our stand. So our conversation was deadlock on that end and till Ganeshotsav. But when only 3 - 4 days were remaining Rajiv once again called me to ask about my program. Before the call I was not much motivated to go an also I was staying in my in laws place at Badlapur in Ganesh festival because at their home also they bring Ganesh idols and do pooja. 

But when Rajiv's call came I thought it was Lord's call and decided to go. Rajiv told me that he is not going to go for Mannat line . So i also told him that even I don't go to Mannat line. Now what is Mannat line ? 

There are two queues in Lalbaug Cha Raja Mandal. One is for Mukh darshan. That is you can just have darshan of the huge 16 feet idol from the 5 meters and not allowed to touch Lord's feet and second one is Mannat Queue. Those who have asked wishes from Lord and his/her wishes get fulfilled brings offerings for Lord what they had decided while asking for wish and bestow those on the Lord's lotus feet. That queue of wishes and touching Lord's feet is called Mannat ki line. 

Now I didn't had sort of wish to get into Mannat's line nor did Rajiv. So we chose to  stand in normal queue where we can have darshan from Mukh darshan queue. Anyway for me the Lord Ganesh is same everywhere whether it is Lalbaug cha Raja , Dagdu Sheth or Gameshjee at my place . But the zeal,the passion and excitement with fervor is worth watching near Lalbaug.

22 September 2012 , Friday

It was decided that Rajiv was going to bring his car and we would roam around Lalbaug and Dadar for Ganapati drashan and I would come to Badlapur catching first train at 2.30 AM in the morning. I reached  Dadar at 4.00 met Rajiv and we started our darshan to following Mandals 

1) Lalbaug cha Raja :- The first ganapati we went to visit was Lalbaug cha Raja as we wanted to finish it quickly at dawn when crowd was less. Here at this mandal the crowd was huge and atleast it would have taken us at least 3 - 4 hours for Mukh darshan only. To my surprise Rajiv directly took me to the main gate where his sister was standing with local cop. She had already arranged for direct darshan for Rajiv without standing in the queue with the permission of cops as he had slip disc. But in that case I was the main beneficiary because I was not ill and I went to darshan straight away in the front. So due to Rajiv and his sister I was able to get darshan within 5 minutes . This was nothing but God's wish.

Lalbaug cha Raja - Entrance 

 Lalbaugcha Raja is the very popular Ganesh Idol of Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lal baug Mumbai. The Mandal, formerly known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug was founded in 1934 at Lalbaug Market , Lalbaug near Currey road Market. 

The Ganapati Mandal of Lalbaug was founded in 1934, because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence the fishermen &  vendors [ i.e the KOLI people] who used to sit in the open place vowed to Lord Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol and Mandal on 12 September 1934 . The Ganesha idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesha has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the Indian freedom struggle was at its peak.

The mandap is open and Ganapati can be seen from the distance . 

Huge queue on the way to Lalbaug cha Raja 

 Bliss ful rays emerge from the idol such is the art of  sculptor who makes the idol

Lalbaug cha Raja 

The Collecitions of Lal baug cha Raja was 22 crore last year in 2011. Now the counting has just begun and already it is setting records despite economic slowdown. Also more than 2 million people from all over the world visit lalbaug cha Raja in the 10 day festival. 

Lalbaug Cha Raja

We had good 5 minute darshan and of Lord and then we moved forward. 

Lalbaug cha Raja 

 In fact we had very good chance of getting darshan and touching the feet also but we had to wait for an hour but it was very fortunate that we got the darshan within 5 minutes.

Lalbaug cha Raja 

 Can you sense the crowd at the exit gate at Lal baug cha Raja 

Crowd at 4.45 AM at Lalbaug cha Raja

Mumbai cha Raja :-  Next we went to Ganapati of Ganesh Galli called Mumbai cha Raja. Here the idol is huge and bigger than Lalbaug cha Raja . The length of idol is 22 feet. The main entrance of the mandap is overwhelming and bright.

Main Entrance :- Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

My friend Rajiv Sharma at Second Entrance : Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

This time at Mumbai cha Raja , the whole space was decorated like Pashupatinath Temple at Katmandu.

Replica of Pashupatinath Temple , Katmandu Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

In fact it was the replica of Pashupatinath Temple. There was exhibition of all the 12 jyotirlings of Lord Shiva 

12 Jyotiring Temples at Pashupatinath Temple Replica - Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

 One of the jyotirling displayed.

Small Temples of all 12 jyotirling around the area - Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

Golden Nandi , Pashupatinath Temple : Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

 In fact even the shivling shown here was replica of Pashupatinath temple showing five faces of Lord Shiva

Replica of Pashupatinath Linga , kathmandu with faces Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja 

 Then we saw the idol of tremendous and titanic Mumbai cha Raja with golden hand. 

Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja Darshan

 This was a mesmerising scene and we both couldn't remove our eyes from that gigantic      Ganapati 

Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja Darshan

 We even had opportunity to touch his feet. 

Ganesh Galli - Mumbai Cha Raja  near his lotus feet 

Then opposite the Ganesh Galli, there is another eco friendly 22 feet huge Idol called Tejukaayaa cha Rajaa 

Just Opposite Ganesh Galli is Tejukaya cha Raja 

They also have same sort of idol every year but the pose of the idol changes every year. 

Tejukaya cha Raja 

Tejukaya cha Raja 

Dear Readers,

Here I end this post. In the next one I will bring another images of mighty Ganapati Mandals of Mumbai . So stay tuned . Thanks for going through.Till then

Ganapati Bappa Maurya.