My vists to Lord Ganesha - Pictures of Pandals

Dear Members,


Mumbai celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with much fervor. The 10 day festival holds the city in trance and devotees wait in queues for more than 22 hours to visit few famous idols like Lalbaughcha Raja, Khetwadi Ganapathi, Marketcha Raja etc.. The idols reach 20+ feet too and are placed on decorative stages with special themes. Lights are thrown in leisure and traditional bhakti gheet and sometimes songs from movies echo the streets. Few of the pandals are admist mumbai’s famous chawls (community homes). Maharasthra Government has kept 10 p.m. deadline for the music, but you can hear the music played 24 hours a days, of course off the speaker after 10 p.m. Organizers hold plays, competition for kids, distribute prizes etc adding more colour to the festival. The idol is brought home or to the Sarvajanik (common) Pandal with great pomp and show. Devotees are thronged with gulals (pink coloured powder) and dance to the famous Lezim dance of Maharasthra. The eldest of the family carries the God, whilst others dance merrily in front of him with the band playing loudly. Even if the Lord is arriving in a tempo or truck or crane, the eldest of the family will be standing next to it! He has that special position. Modaks are made or bought from sweet shop and offered to God after the Sthapana Puja. Members of the family fast a day before the God is brought home and also stay awake the whole night a day before the God is immersed. A day before Ganesh Chaturthi, Gowri is brought home by few families and she is worshipped following the rituals. Mumbai traffic is diverted to different routes for happy staying of Ganesha and happy viewing for his devotees. Let me tell you, guys, nobody complains! I am not explaining things in detail here as the post may get too long!

With tremendous work load in office and few visitors from abroad, there are little doubts of myself visiting the Lalbaughcha Raja this year. I have not let my spirits die, so instead of visiting the Raja, who is celebrating 75^th year of Sthapana in 2008, I decided to visit the pandals of Vashi and Kopar Khairane.

It took 2 days for me to visit the pandals of Kopar Khairane and 2 days to visit pandals of Vashi. I could not take the luxury of a day off, so would rush home, keep my shoulder bag and take a small hand purse and umbrella and start my journey. Each day I spent around 3 hours i.e. 7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. hopping from one pandal to another. Dinner had taken a back seat, it was always a quick fix, Rice Sevai, Lemon Rice etc. Most of the time, I was lucky to have a quick darshan while at some famous places I had to spend some time standing in queues. I am not feeling low that I am not able to visit the Raja of Lalbaugh. The rain god was kind too.

Here are the pictures of the pandals that I have visited. Members, who do not know about the Ganesh Pandals in Mumbai, can have a look! While members who are missing Mumbai can also have a look! Lastly, members like me who love Ganesha, can have a divine treat for their eyes! Few pandals, did not let me carry my camera inside, even mobiles had to be deposited, while in some, I could not click the photos as the crowd was mammoth! I have tried my best to post maximum pictures here!

Enjoy the visual treat!

||Ganapati Bappa Morya||

Check out the pictures - do not miss any of them!

Traditional Dress of Maharashtra

Don't Know What is this LEZIM DANCE! Watch this Video!

YouTube - IITK Ganeshotsav 2007 Lezim Performance

Pandal pictures on the way!

How can I miss Modak before the pictures of Pandals!

Now, Finally, the pictures of Ganesha and the Pandals! Only for members of Indusladies.com. Picture No. 2 is a bit shady as the idol was in a pitch dark cave with few lights. I had to wade through some water, pass through some cave like decorum in dim lights.

The Next set of Pictures. I was one of the chosen ones for performing quick deepa aarthi for Lord Ganesha in picture no. 3

More for your vision! Hope you are all enjoying it folks. Do not hate for putting you all through this ordeal.

Pandals from Vashi and Kopar Khairane are posted together.

The next set is here! No copying or downloading from sites, personal visits, personal pictures for my friends in IL!

Mals dear,
Thanks a ton!! That was a real visual treat.Lord Ganapathy look so magnificent and divine.Your write up was good.

Another set of divine pictures, some of them are the most famous Sarvajanik Pandals of Navi Mumbai. Am I living up to your expectations!