Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal not to keep Lord Ganesha this year amid COVID-19 fear

Mumbai's Lalbaughcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal, the biggest Mandal, has decided not to hold Ganeshotsav this time in wake of COVID19 pandemic. A blood and plasma donation camp will be set up in its place to promote plasma donation.

Mumbai: Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, one of the biggest Ganpati mandals in Maharashtra has decided not to keep Lord Ganesha this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a first in Lalbaugcha Raja's 87-year history that the Mandal has decided to call off the annual event. The Mandal will also felicitate the families of policemen who succumbed to COVID-19 while being on duty.

Balasaheb Kamble, President of Mandal announced that the Mandal has decided to celebrate 'Aarogya Utsav' by setting up a blood and plasma donation camp.

While talking to ETV Bharat, Kamble said, "We are in grief as there will be no celebrations this year. But we are happy that we will observe a health drive."

The decision has been welcomed by Brihan Mumbia Ganesh festival committee. Naresh Dahibavkar, Committee Chairman, said that Lalbaugcha Raja spearheads in social work and now it has set a new precedent by announcing that it will organise health drives and awareness camps to promote plasma donation.

However, Dahibavkar has requested that Mandal should allow Mukhdarshan of Ganpati idol to which Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal said that the decision will be taken on later. Apart from this, the mandal has also decided to donate Rs 25 lakh to CM's corona relief fund.

Lalbaugcha Raja is the most famous and the most visited Ganesh idols in Mumbai. Every year, political leaders, Bollywood celebrities and famous sportsperson visit this Ganpati. It is also famous for fulfilling the wishes of the people.

In view of the spurt in the COVID-19 cases, most of the Ganesh Pandals have decided to keep the celebrations low key this year.

READ: Maharashtra CM Thackeray performs 'mahapooja' at Lord Vitthal temple

Salient features of Lalbaugcha Raja

There are thousands of Ganesh Mandals in Mumbai, but as the devotees consider Lalbaugcha Raja as completing their vows, this festival has special importance.

Festival runs for eleven days and in that period, several famous personalities, actors and players participate. Singers Suresh Wadkar and Shankar Mahadevan have several times sang Arti here. Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar had also come to visit this Mandal. The famous actors in Marathi film industry and Bollywood participate in the puja ceremony, including the ace cricketer and former Indian Cricket Captain Sachin Tendulkar. Last year, Union Home minister Amit Shah had come here for darshan.

Lalbaugcha Raja is not only famous in Maharashtra but also in the entire country. The queue of devotees goes for 4 to 5 Kilometers.

There are two queues here, one is for devotees who have vowed and another queue is for Mukhdarshan. The devotees spend 8 to 10 hours for just to see the face of the idol. The devotees who have vowed stand in queue for 12 to 24 hours. At the weekend, the duration of queue increases by 3 to 4 hours more.

The darshan is allowed for twenty-four hours and there is no stop. 500 to 800 volunteers relentlessly work here to maintain discipline. The police department has to provide extra staff here to maintain law and order.