Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival, which is one of the most celebrated ones in the nation. The celebration of the festival is in honour of Lord Ganesha, who is the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festival is celebrated fervently in Maharashtra and is an experience to revel in firsthand.
Ganeshotsav is celebrated on the 4th day of the Bhadrapada month in the Hindu calendar. This usually falls during late August, or at the start of September. The festivities last for 11 days in total, with the first day called the Ganesh Chaturthi and the last one being Anant Chaturdashi.
The festival involves families and people worshipping Lord Ganesha’s idols and then immersing the said idols in the water at the end of the festival. The act of immersing the idol in water is called the “visarjan”. Throughout the 11 days, many rituals and acts of worship are performed on the idols. This includes making Modak, which is a sweet dish which is believed to be a favorite of Lord Ganesha. Chanting prayers, singing and dancing are also common aspects of worship during this time.
Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai
Mumbai is arguably the only place in India where this festival is celebrated with the most enthusiasm. The tradition of celebrating it with such fervor was initially started by the Marathi Ruler Shivaji Raje, but it shot to the prominence it has now owing to the actions and imploring of esteemed freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. Now, the Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Mumbai is celebrated by everyone, regardless of caste or creed.
Mumbai is split into a host of local communities for the event, and they all take part on organizing the event smoothly – they even have a healthy competition between them and try to outdo each other in terms of grandeur. The most popular Ganesh Pandal during the event in Mumbai is in Lalbaugcha Raja, in central Mumbai.
In Lalbaugcha Raja, the sheer size of the statue itself is sure to wow you. There is usually an unending line of devotees looking to pay their respects to the Lord, and it can be very crowded and festive- it would be best to get one of the one-way cabs to get there. Ganesh Galli Mumbaicha Raja and the Khetwadi Ganraj are two of the other famous pandals.
Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune
Being the cultural capital of Maharashtra, it is no surprise that Pune also practices the Ganesh Chaturthi with grandeur. Some of the Ganshas in Pune are made of eco-friendly materials, as they disintegrate better and do not end up harming any aquatic life once they are left to float away. While the celebrations in Pune are not as crowded or fervent as the ones seen in Mumbai, it also has its own charms- the experience is not greatly different when comparing the cities. In case you want to have a feel of the festivities amidst a comparatively smaller crowd, it would be better to book a taxi from Mumbai to Pune.