The excitement and energy around Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai is absolutely electrifying! After years of wanting to experience the festivities first hand, I finally took off with my brother Nishant to explore the city during Ganesh’s visit.
We covered a few Mandal’s and their beautiful idols in the few
hours we could spare; and are sharing them in a total of three blogs.
( All photos and videos
are taken from the mobile phone. Do excuse the wobbly footage and noisy
backdrop!
Since the video quality isn't very clear here, shall upload the same on YouTube soon )
Since the video quality isn't very clear here, shall upload the same on YouTube soon )
Parelcha
Raja
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Height : 24 Feet
Founded: 1947
As I walked towards the Mandal
, I saw a lovely fair! Full of colours, glee, cotton candy and fun rides;
the surroundings were like a fun fair or a mini amusement park! My heart
sank a bit as I had to walk past it due to my time crunch.
The Parelcha Raja was shown standing over a Rakshasa ready to slay him for his
misdeeds with a pointy sword. Around the idols waist, hung the heads of slain Rakshasas. Along with the large crown,
his ears were adorned with golden ear cuffs outlined with peacock feathers. His
hands held a variety of objects right from birds, weapons, animals, instruments
and more. The idol was surrounded by a mix of a Sandy beach, a forest and a
water body. There were also a number of shrubs planted around the smaller
Murthi for a green effect.
Lalbaugcha
Raja
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Founded: 1934
Lalbaugcha Raja is one of most celebrated Ganpatis during
the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This was my first visit to the mandal and I was stunned! On a very hot
afternoon and despite it being a working day, people had flocked by the
thousands for darshan.
After walking
through a long metal maze, we squeezed ourselves through tiny by-lanes with a
lot of shops around us some selling sweets, some refreshments, requirements for
Poojas and some even Lalbaugcha Raja
T-Shirts and crazy memorabilia.
They crowd was chanting throughout! I was
amazed at the devotion people had.
The Ganesh idol had a charkra
in one hand, a parashu in another
while he blessed all his devotees. His throne had the SheshNag on it. His ear
had a lovely golden bikbaali.
Mumbaicha
Raja, Ganesh Galli
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Height : 22 Feet
Founded: 1928
The entrance was big and pretty interesting with beautiful
carved designs and brown guard figurines peeping out of windows on it.
As we made our way towards the Idol, we saw a huge rustic copperish red, fort like structure in which the Idol was placed. There were fountains too!
The Ganpati idol here stood with a whip in one hand and the
hair of a lions mane in another. The Lion whose mane was held was right behind
the idol with an angry expression in a pouncing stance. The Ganpati idol stood
with an expression of calm despite the anger shown right behind him.
Raja
Tejukaya
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Founded: 1967
As we stood in line for darshan,
we overheard a conversation of a mishap that happened about three to four years ago. As
the Raja Tejukaya idol was being taken to the beach for Visarjan, a rope hit the idol and the
idol fell to the ground. Everyone at that time was heartbroken but strong in spirit. They didn’t let this unfortunate event stop them from continuing their
love for Ganesha and have kept the tradition alive.
The Raja Tejukaya idol this year stood in a warrior stance with his hand holding weapons such as an axe, and a bow and arrow. His ears had three interesting and completely different types of earrings. His body was covered with a golden armour and behind him stood a life like decorated elephant.
The
idol was surrounded by a golden and brown palatial partition. An interesting fact about the Raja Tejukaya idol is that the idols face remains the same each year.
Chinchpoklicha
Chintamani
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Founded: 1920
The mandal was
made like an ancient copper and gold palace with lions on each pillar.
Chinchpoklicha Chintamani sat on a huge golden throne playing a sitar.
His right hand, as well as both his ears were made of gold. His throne was huge and he had Krishna playing the basuri on his right, Krauncha on his left and the Surya in the middle. The bottom of his throne were peacocks.
His right hand, as well as both his ears were made of gold. His throne was huge and he had Krishna playing the basuri on his right, Krauncha on his left and the Surya in the middle. The bottom of his throne were peacocks.
(This year's best
Ganesh idol award went to the Chinchpokli
Chintamani)
Kalachaukicha
Mahaganpati
Days for Darshan : 11
days
I was pretty shocked to see temple run as their theme; but i
must say it was quite unique! Right from the entrance of the lane, to the mandal and the area inside, everything was based
on the theme.
Here’s the inside of the mandal on video :
The Kalachaukicha Mahaganpati stood with an axe and a paash in his hand ; along with a sword around his waist. His crown was shaped like a peacock.
He stood in the midst of rock and boulders
the background looked like that of a sunset. On his left, there was a small
temple placed on a tortoise.
Rangaari
Badak Chawl
Days for Darshan : 11
days
The entrance of the Mandal
had various pictures stuck to the walls right from old pictures of the Rangaari
Badak Chawl idols over the years to that of freedom fighters, quite fun to read
along the way.
The Mandal was given a palatial look with golden and copper pillars and various other royal symbols and architecture around it.
The idol sat on a SheshNag throne and each of his hands grasped a weapon.
The backdrop seems like a snow-filled ground with a beautiful
dusk like sky behind.
Fortcha
Icchapurti Ganesh
Days for Darshan : 11
days
I have been in love with this place every since my visit.
The entrance was as grand as ever! It was a royal entrance with golden copper pillars. Each pillar has intricate designs and small statues on them. Around the entrance were put up colourful paintings of scenes taken out of the Indian mythology. Two white decorated elephants stood near the staircase. The entrance also had the busts of Shivaji Maharaj and Lokmanya Tilak.
The ground floor of the
Mandal had a Shivling and a Ganpati idol placed in a room completely golden
in colour with very beautiful and intricate work all around. This particular room was said to be a replica of Siddhivinayak.
As we made our way to the first floor we entered a gazebo
like room. The room was filled with different idols. The first one we saw was
Mumbai’s first Sarvajanik
Ganpati by Lokmanya Tilak, As we walked along we saw the Ashtavinayak (Eight
Ganeshas) . The entire area from here was air conditioned.
A passage that took us to the room in which the idol was
kept had various Ganpati idols placed in the wall as well.
The room in which the idol was kept took my breath away! The
room was full of life and beautiful colours.
You could see miniature Ganesh idols from all around the world. Some performers were getting ready to sing and entertain the crowd. Around the room the lights would change from time to time.
You could see miniature Ganesh idols from all around the world. Some performers were getting ready to sing and entertain the crowd. Around the room the lights would change from time to time.
Fortcha Icchapurti Ganesh sat on a rustic golden throne with
lions at the bottom and Krauncha on his right and left side. His right hand,
ears, tusks and feet were made out of gold.
I simply loved the liveliness of the place. The part where
this mandal stood out for me the most was that it provided some visual GK to
take back home.
( This mandal has received
this year's best ganpati decoration award )
Crawford
market cha Ganraaj
Days for Darshan : 11
days
Founded: 1969
This idol was quite different. Bal Ganesha was held lovingly
in the air by a woman dressed in a tradition Marathi sari. Quite a cute sight.
( psst keep a look out
for part 2! will update it on www.facebook.com/nehasclicks
or www.instagram.com/nehasclicks
To be continued...)
