MUMBAI: A little Bal Ganesh astride a motorcycle at a moortikar workshop near Apna Bazar, Andheri. A towering 45-ft tall avatar resembling Lord Indra at Khetwadi 11th Lane in Girgaum. And approximately 2.12 lakh idols in between, each beautiful, each creative, spread across Mumbai.
Maharashtra's biggest festival of Ganeshotsav will flag off to a colourful start with the `pran-pratishtha' (installation) aarti Tuesday morning. Households and mandals alike have put their best foot forward to welcome their favourite god during his annual ten-day homecoming September 19-28.
While mandals have already taken delivery of the idols from the workshops, families who install the deity for a day-and-a-half came for pick up Monday. And many of them had to scurry for cover bearing their precious cargo as the rain gods showered blessings upon hearing loud chants of `Ganpati Bappa Morya!'
The Lalbaug-Parel belt is the epicentre of festivity. The Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav in association with `The Times of India' is the biggest draw of the season. Now in its 90th year, the stately Raja lords over a historic setting designed to commemorate the 350th anniversary of King Shivaji's coronation as Chhatrapati. ``The occasion of his Rajyabhishek marked the establishment of Hindavi Swaraj, which inspires us Maharashtrians to this day,'' said Balasaheb Kamble, president of the Lalbaugcha Raja mandal.
This beauteous set turned out to be the final assignment that noted art director Nitin Desai accomplished for the Raja shortly before his death August 2. ``It was Desai who carved the grand gate of Raigad fort at our pandal entrance. He executed replicas of the beautiful Shivkaal throne, nagarkhana and backdrop for our deity before he passed away,'' said Kamble. Shivaji's Rajmudra (official stamp) which seals the promise of ``shining for the welfare of the people'' is placed prominently beside the idol.
Echoing a similar theme, the Ganesh Gully mandal nearby has carved an elaborate model of Raigad Fort where Chhatrapati Shivaji was anointed king. Their 22-ft idol watches over two shrines, the nagarkhana, Shivaji's samadhi as well as a retinue of elephants and horses.
Another big mandal in the Girangaon (erstwhile mill land) stretch which earns a footfall of lakhs is the Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani. Its `aagman yatra' (arrival procession) is the biggest in all of Maharashtra, with around 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh spectators flooding the streets on the occasion. The mandal conducted a formal unveiling of its Shri Ram avatar idol flanked by Sita and Laxman Sunday.
It is Kalachowkie police station that has its hands full manning these three giants among five big mandals in Lalbaug. Senior inspector Pramod Bhowate said, ``We appeal to people to safeguard their jewellery, cellphones and valuables during darshan. Around 5-6 lakh people arrive in Lalbaug for Ganeshotsav, especially on weekends -- and these include thieves and robbers who travel from other parts of the country! We have deployed policemen in plainclothes, SRP, RAF and installed 240 CCTVs.''
A total of 15 DCPs, 2,024 officers from ACP to PSIs and 11,726 staff have been put on Ganeshotsav bandobast duty.
Extensive arrangements by the state and citizenry all reflect the abiding faith that millions of people repose in Lord Ganesh amid the trials and tribulations of daily existence.
