Ganesh festival commences in Mumbai

Amidst beating of drums and stroke of cymbals and chants of 'Ganpati bappa morya, Mangal murti morya', the 10-day-long Ganesh Utsav commenced in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra on Thursday.

On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh chaturthi, idols of Lord Ganesha - from a few inches to 22-feet plus were welcomed in homes, housing societies and sarvajanik mandals.
People were seen seeking blessings from the God of new beginnings, remover of obstacles, wisdom, intelligence and prosperity.

Serpantine queues were witnessed outsides the trmples including the Siddhivinayak temple at Prabhadevi and Ganesh temple at Borivli in Mumbai - with devotees thronging to seek blessings of the elephant-headed pot-bellied God.

Long queues were also seen at the Dagdusheth Halwai in Pune and Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri district with people seeking blessings for the Lord.

The spiraling inflation, northward movement of petrol and diesel prices and the recent plastic and thermocol ban imposed by the Maharashtra government is the backdrop in which this year's Ganesh festival is being celebrated.

On Thursday 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. In the MMR itself more than 3 lakh idols will 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 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 1893. It was done to garner support for India’s freedom struggle.

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 Bal Gopal GaneshUtsav Mandal, Marine Lines, Fort Vibhag Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Mandal, Fort, Andheri-cha-Raja or the Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samitee at Andheri.