The Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi festival was initiated in "1982 " by Lokmanya Tilak for communication between masses during freedom struggle period.

Ganpati, Mumbai’s favourite god is brought in with great pomp in to the mandals. While the mighty Lord sits majestically on his vahan, thousands of Mumbaites busy themselves anointing him.Who will make the biggest and best Ganesh idol this year? Will the Lalbaug Cha Raja score again? Which mandal will attract the longest queue? The competition hots up. Ganesh Chaturthi heralds days of joy, reverence and festivities in Mumbai.

Early in September, on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated. Months earlier, thousands of clay idols of Lord Ganesh are made in Mumbai. To many Mumbaites, the festival offers an alternate source of income as they get down to the task of sculpting clay Ganesh idols.Some people work extra during this time doubling their profession as a sculptor.

A Ganesh idol can cost anywhere between Rs 100 for a palm-size idol to thousands of rupees or even lakhs for large idols. Even with the escalating prices of the clay idols, the number of orders each year only increase, giving rise to more artists and more factories.

A number of exhibitions in the city showcase both traditional and unique forms of abstract idols. Ganapathy Darshan displays a collection of unique wood and stone carvings and traditional bronze icons at the Sachivalaya Gymkhana opposite the Mantralaya.

Women get busy making steamed modaks (sweets made from rice flour and stuffed with coconut and sugar) and other festive dishes.

The Ganesh idols are immersed on the second, fifth, seventh or 11th day (Ananta Chaturdashi), or the day preceding the full moon day of Bhadrapad, which brings one phase of the Chaturmaas festive season to an end.

Amidst picturesque processions, with the rhythm of bells ,drums and chants "Ganpati bappa morya", the Ganesh idols are immersed by midnight.

And Mumbai waits for the excitement to return next year with the chant "pudchyavarshi lavkar ya". . . .

The Other Part

Lalbagh cha Raja attracts the biggest crowds from all parts of Mumbai. People wait in the long que for hours just to get a glimpse of the elephant god and present their offerings to the great lord.

I have always had this thought in mind does god depend on our prayers and offerings or those celebrities who have become famous.

Ideally no, It is we who believe in the superpower above us.Then why do we treat the celebrities as someone very important at such places. They do not stand in any que for the darshan but are led directly near the god to touch his feet. The common man is not even allowed to stand in front of the deity for few seconds. This is ridiculous.

Like every year, this year also I had gone to pay my respects to the elephant God at Lalbagh. While I was standing in que I heard many people talking "Ye actor log ke wajah se hi hum sabko line mein jyada der rukhna padta hai" means It is only because of these actors we have to stand longer in que. This is very true, when any celebrity comes in, the que comes to a standstill for atleast 20-25 minutes. Until the celebrity goes the line cannot move. The common man has to wait atleast 6 hours to get a glimpse of the lord. No one can question all these. The people have to silently watch all these because they will not get answers for such questions.

All my mouthsut friends staying in Mumbai must be aware of this. I am writing this post to let all my friends on mouthshut in other parts of India know about this.

I will end my post with the slogan ganpati bappa morya...