MUMBAI: The first 4-foot idol of the Lalbaugcha Raja was unveiled for darshan at 12:30 at Ganesh Chaturthi on Friday.
This is the 88th year of the Mandal festivities.
For the first time in decades, the Raja’s stance is also altered. Instead of its upright position seated on a throne, the deity is seen reclining on Sheshnag, the black serpent. Mandal president Balasaheb Kamble says they also formed a similar idol about 30-40 years ago.
This season, the change was necessitated by state government Covid-19 blocking rules that state that the height of the idol cannot exceed 4 feet.
The actual actual posture looked small on a throne and viewers would instantly compare it to the huge 12-foot idol of previous years. The reclining Ganesh is unprecedented and therefore serves as a novelty.
The honor of performing the first aarti was for Mandal Secretary Sudhir Salvi.
Setting another record, the mandal has had to dismiss physical darshan as commanded by the state, so it has linked its YouTube and Facebook channels 24 hours a day to provide 24-hour coverage.
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In Images: Popular Ganpati Mandalas in Mumbai
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Citizens wear Ganeshotsav on Friday with love and fervor. Although authorities have banned pandals from visiting due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organizers of the famous Ganpati mandalas will bring ‘Bappa’ home via digital darshan. Here are some of the famous Ganpati prawns that would have been filled with devotees in normal times:
– Un Kadam (TOI)
The prestigious Lalbaugcha Raja presented his idol Ganesha on Friday. For the first time, the ‘moorti’ is 4 feet tall. The first aarti was performed by Mandal Secretary Sudhir Salvi.
Maharaja Ganesh of Mumbai, 11th Street of Khetwadi, has been launched this year on the model of Shivaji Maharaj.
The Shivdicha Raja Ganesh has been reduced from 15 to 4 feet. His feast has been reduced to five days instead of the usual ten.
This is the 94th year that Ganesh Galli’s Mumbai Cha Raja will celebrate Ganeshotsav – Sanjay Hadkar (TOI)
Khetwadi cha Raja, 52, of Khambata Lane. The mandal whose moorti normally rises to 24 feet has reduced it to 4 feet.
Tejukaya Ganesh is another famous Lalbaug mandal. He has represented Lord Ganesh in the form of pujari or priest.
Ganpati Bappa in Abhyudaya Nagar Cha Raja sits on a peacock throne this year. This is the 65th year of celebrations at Abhyudaya Nagar Cha Raja.
Bappa in Khetwadi cha Ganraj of the 12th band Khetwadi looks stunning as he sits happily on his throne.
Nare Park’s prestigious Parel Cha Raja, Parel, celebrates its 75th platinum jubilee this year
On Friday, visitors took a look outside the pandal, but police deviated from Covid’s guidelines.
Organizers had last year canceled Ganeshotsav celebrities in 2020 due to blocking restrictions. Instead, they assembled an Aarogya Utsav or sanitary device, donating blood and plasma to Covid patients. They collectively distributed a sum of more than 1 million euros to the families of the Galwan martyrs and to the police officers who died of coronavirus infection.
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