Lalbaugcha Raja: Ganesh Chaturthi is a major festival of Hinduism, which is celebrated on the Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. This year Ganesh Chaturthi is on 7 September 2024 and will end on 17 September 2024.
Ganesh Chaturthi festival lasts for 10 days and its pomp and splendor is especially seen in Maharashtra. During the 10-day Ganeshotsav, various pandals of Lord Ganesha are prepared in Maharashtra and Mumbai, of which ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’ near Lalbaug Police Station in Lalbaug market of Central Mumbai is very famous.
History of Navsacha Ganpati of Lalbaugcha Raja (Lalbaugcha Raja Navsacha Ganpati History)
Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal was established in 1934. It is located in Lalbaug, Parel area of Mumbai. This Ganesh Mandal attracts lakhs of people during its 10-day celebration. This famous Ganpati ‘Navsacha Ganapati’ (Navsacha Ganpati) It is said that it means Ganapati who fulfills wishes. Every year there is a queue of about 5 kilometers long for darshan here. The idol of Lalbaug Ganesh is immersed in Girgaon Chowpatty on the tenth day.
The Mandal was formed at a time when the freedom struggle was at its peak. Lokmanya Tilak used ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav’ as a medium to make people aware against the British rule. Along with religious duties, freedom struggle and social issues were also discussed here. During Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai, everyone’s eyes are on ‘Lalbaug ka Raja’, who is also called ‘Mannaton ka Ganesh’.
How did Lalbaghcha Raja get fame?
This mandal was started by local fishermen. Many people’s wishes were fulfilled here and the crowd started increasing. Another reason is the proximity to the “Raja of Mumbai” or “Ganesh Galli” Ganpati. The king of entire Mumbai is situated next to Lalbaugcha Raja, which we also call “Ganesh Galli Ganpati”. Sometimes the queue in Ganesh Galli would be so long that it would reach Lalbaug’s Raja and then people started going to “Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati” as well and long queues started forming there as well.
Many people’s wishes started getting fulfilled. After this fame, people started coming here from abroad as well. Later, after 2001, it started getting shown in the news with great fanfare and Lalbaugcha started making headlines in the news as well. After this, big leaders, industrialists, Bollywood, cricketers, social workers etc. also started coming here for darshan. It is believed that if one visits Lalbaugcha Raja with a true heart, then the wish is definitely fulfilled.
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