Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations starts in Mumbai

The chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya’ – rent the air as people Mumbai and Maharashtra welcomed the elephant-headed-Lord Ganesha on Friday on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi marking the beginning of the  12-day-long Ganeshutsav.

This time, the Ganesh festival, which is the main festival in this western state of Maharashtra, has a special significance as it marks the 125th year of public celebrations of Ganeshutsav. From Thursday evening, people were seen taking idols of Lord Ganesha to their homes and housing societies.

On Friday morning on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the ‘sthaapna’ pooja was performed followed by traditional aartis to mark the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Lord Ganesha is the Hindu God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganeshutsav is the biggest festival of Maharashtra and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) attracts people from all over the state, country and even foreign tourists during the festivities.

In the MMR – which comprises Mumbai and parts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts -  more than 4  lakh idols are be installed at homes, housing complexes and in public venues by various mandals or associations. In the entire state, by some estimates, more than 10 to 12  lakh idols are installed including Pune.

The origin of the festival in this form is from Keshavji Nayak Chawl at Girgaum here, where Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started its first ‘sarvajanik’ Ganeshutsav in 1894. It was done to garner support for India’s freedom struggle.

This is year Ganeshutsav falls from 25 August-5 September - and this would be the 125th year of the festival in Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country.

Tilak performed the 1st Ganesh festival at Keshavji Nayak Chawl at Khadilkar Road in Girgaum - where one can see the board of the Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Sanstha, which organises it.

While Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 25 August, one-and-half-days visarjan on 26 August, three-day visarjan on 27 August, five days visarjan on 29 August, seven-days visarjan on 31 and 11 days visarjan on 5 September, which is Anant Chaturdashi and the final day of the immersion.

Tilak performed the 1st Ganesh festival at Keshavji Naik Chawl at Khadilkar Road in Girgaum - where one can see the board of the Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Sanstha, which organises it. From there it has spread across in Mumbai and its suburbs.

Even though there is a controversy in Pune on whether Tilak was the founder of public Ganeshutsav or Bhausaheb Rangari - the facts are clear for Mumbai. It was the Keshavji Naik Chawl where the Ganesh festival was held first.

The BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti is in touch with various agencies like Maharashtra Government, Brihan Mumbai Municipal.

The dazzling lights gave a festive look at the Lalbaug-cha-Raja at Lalbaug, Ganesh Gully, Lalbaug, Tejukaya Mandal, Lalbaug, GSB Seva Mandal, Matunga-Kings’ Circle, GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Samiti, Wadala, Kethwadi, 11thLane, Kethwadi, 12th Lane, Sahyadri Mandal, Tilak Nagar-Chembur, Shri BalGopal GaneshUtsav Mandal, Marine Lines, Fort VibhagSarvajanik Ganeshutsav Mandal, Fort, Andheri-cha-Raja or the Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samitee at Andheri.

Like previous years, this year too there have been themes. "There are historical and contemporary themes and the range is very wide this time," said Naresh Dahibawkar, the President of BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, the apex body of public Ganpati mandals in Mumbai.