If anyone had to truly experience the phrase ‘Mumbai Never Sleeps’, they must visit the city during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Hard pressed for time, I took off to take a look at some of the Mandals around. Sadly, I couldn’t cover more than half I did last year but I still had quite a wonderful time
Tejukaya cha Raja
In the blistering afternoon heat, hundreds of followers had flocked to see Tejukaya cha Raja. The beautiful white & golden Elephant decor had people mesmerized as I overheard quite a few fondly admiring the work.
Tejukaya cha Raja just completed 50 glorious years and the celebrations had to be grand. The team had been following the plight & suicides of the farmers in the newspapers
and decided to dedicate this years theme in their honour.
and decided to dedicate this years theme in their honour.
This year, they welcomed Raja Tejukaya on a Bullock driven chariot
with a farmer and his wife right on top of the throne.
with a farmer and his wife right on top of the throne.
The bullocks appeared to be stomping the ground but the team told me that the bullocks were actually trampling all the issues the farmers faced
as Ganpati Bappa brought along with him the rain.
Raja Tejukaya’s skin was a glistening pink with a lovely florescent design on his trunk.
as Ganpati Bappa brought along with him the rain.
Raja Tejukaya’s skin was a glistening pink with a lovely florescent design on his trunk.
His throne has various crops ( maize, wheat ) embossed in it to bless the farmers produce. In his hand he holds a plough to help the farmers take care of their field.
The chariot is driven by none other than Krauncha who watches carefully for any trouble ahead.
The chariot is driven by none other than Krauncha who watches carefully for any trouble ahead.
During Raja Tejukayas visarjan, over 300 men hold the 22 ft bappa on their shoulders with the help of rods and walk him into the ocean. It is said that by the time they devotees leave the beach, Raja Tejukayas hand can always be seeing waving back to them.
Apart from this lovely mandal completing 50 years, there is also a certain anxiety in the air about the chawls being demolished to make way for tall towers. However, the third and fourth generation of Tejukaya has assured me that even if everything is demolished, Ganeshotsav will be celebrated in full gusto.
It breaks my heart to know that this landmark may not be around in a matter of months.
For photos : https://www.facebook.com/nehasclicks
Ganesh Chaturthi 2015 : http://nehasclicks.blogspot.in/2015/09/ganesh-chaturthi-2015-part-13.html
Ganesh Chaturthi 2015 : http://nehasclicks.blogspot.in/2015/09/ganesh-chaturthi-2015-part-13.html
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