Watch: Mumbai Lalbaugcha Raja first look before Ganesh Chaturthi

Ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Lalbaugcha Raja's first look was unveiled on Thursday, marking the beginning of the festival in Mumbai.

Lalbaugcha Raja or the “King of Lalbaug” located in Putlabai Chawl is the most visited Ganesh mandal in Mumbai. from Aam Aadmi For celebrities, hundreds of thousands of Mumbaikars line up at Lalbagh every year just to catch a glimpse of the iconic icon.

The Ganapati festival begins on September 7 and is a major celebration in Maharashtra.

At the same time, preparations for the festival have begun, and the event is unprecedented. Statue makers are making eco-friendly statues of Lord Ganesh and the markets in the city are bustling with a festive atmosphere. The sculptor is busy giving the final touches to the Ganesha idol. There are idols available in the market in different sizes, designs and colors. Buyers are heading to stores to pre-order their favorite idols. However, the high demand for eco-friendly idols has prompted sculptors to use less plaster of paris and more clay in most idols. In addition to this, they are decorated with herbal colors that do not pollute the water like chemical colors do.

Ganesh Chaturthi marks the joyful celebration of the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival lasts for 10 days and is popularly known as “Ganeshotsav”. The festival ends with a grand visarjan, where the idol of Ganesh is immersed in a water body amidst chants and music.

“King of Larbaug”

The history of Lalbaug dates back to the 1900s when the entire area of ​​Parel was occupied by textile mills. When industrialization reached its peak in the 1930s, textile mills were the first to bear the brunt, affecting people's lives and livelihoods.

Legend has it that the locals, mainly fishermen and traders, sought help from their favorite god Ganesha. They acquired a plot of land which is currently known as Lalbaugh Market. Locals believe this is a blessing from Ganesha. To show respect, they decided to designate a portion of the land for Ganpati celebrations. The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal is built on this land and the idol of the deity is placed here every year. The idols are dressed in different clothes and are known as kings.

Over time, these celebrations grew in size and scale. There are panda competitions, each one grander than the last.