Mumbaikars Get First Glimpse of Lalbaugcha Raja Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi | WATCH

The first look of Mumbai’s famous Lalbaugcha Raja is out with just three days left for Ganesh Chaturthi. Hundreds of people throng the mandal at Lalbaug, a locality in Mumbai, to get a glimpse of the revered ‘Bappa’ on Friday.

The 10-day Ganesh festivities will begin on September 19.

Lalbaugcha Raja or ‘King of Lalbaug’, located in Putlabai Chawl, is the most visited Ganesh idol in Mumbai. Every year, lakhs of devotees throng the Lalbaugh market to visit the Lalbaugcha Raja.

Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi, this festival is one of the most eagerly awaited, popular, and widely celebrated in India. The excitement, enthusiasm and joy associated with this occasion is unparalleled. It is an elaborate Hindu festival that spans over 10 days.

Lalbaugcha Raja

Founded in 1934, Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the famous mandals in Mumbai and thus attracts hundreds of people including politicians and Bollywood celebrities during the 10-day festival.

Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal has got insurance coverage amounting to Rs 26.54 crore from New India Assurance this year which covers various risks, including fire, theft, accidents, stampedes, acts of terrorism, and even poisoning caused by prasad, Times of India reported.

With Ganesh Chaturthi just three days away, there is excitement in the air in Mumbai as pandals prepare to get their big idols from workshops and families gear up to bring their household idols home. Idol makers in the city have been working around the clock ahead of the 10-day mega festival.

Mumbaikars, however, are a bit picky about their ‘Bappa’. While some buy idols from the same shop for more than 10 years, others like their Ganesha to be made as per their specifications. Sunil Panchal, who owns an idol shop in the Lalbaug area of central Mumbai, says he makes idols for 300 customers every year.

“I have customers who have been coming to me year after year. Some want their idol to be modelled after the Lalbaugcha Raja, Dagdusheth Ganpati or in the Titwala ‘baithak’ style. These three types of idols get sold the most,” Panchal said.

Panchal has around 400 idols in his shop, ranging from one foot to eight feet, and even entertains last-minute customers.

“There are people who come on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi or just a day before the festival to book idols, we have a stock saved for them as well,” says Panchal, who has been in the business for the last 12 years.

(With PTI inputs)