Mumbai’s colorful and lavish Ganesh Chaturthi celebration is just around the corner. There’s devotion, excitement, and happiness in the air! The ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’ or ‘King of Lalbaug’, also known as Navasacha Ganpati or wish-fulfilling Ganesha, is the most-awaited idol in the city. From its significance to the aarti timings, here’s all you need to know.
Lalbaugcha Raja 2023: Significance, History
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Every year, the festivities for Ganeshotsav begin in Mumbai with the presentation of the first image of “Lalbaugcha Raja,” a building in Putlabai Chawl.
In the early 1900s, the area was home to 130 cotton mills. Industrialization caused the market to shut down, affecting the livelihood of the vendors and fishermen community. They prayed to Lord Ganesha to help them. In 1934, the community earmarked land for the Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, and the Ganesha idol was established. The Ganesha idol, dressed as a fisherman, became the patron god of the locality.
The love for this idol has grown in size and scope over the years. There are huge lines of people waiting in Lalbaug to pay their respects to the wish-fulfilling Ganesha, and sometimes they wait for more than 40 hours.
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Navsachi Line & Mukh Darshanachi Line
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Notably, there are two lines—the Navsachi line and the Mukh Darshanachi line—for receiving the Lalbaugcha Raja’s blessings. The first one allows participants to go on stage, touch the deity’s feet, and receive his blessings in order to have their desires granted. The second enables worshipers to see the idol from a slight distance.
Board local trains to Chinchpokali or Byculla Station. The Mukha Darshan queue can also be reached from Rani Baug on the Central Line or Cotton Green Station on the Harbour Railway. For the Navsachi Darshan line, devotees can come from Curry Road station on the Central line or Lower Parel station on the Western rail line.
You can witness the grand and spiritual aarti at 12:30 pm and 8 pm every day for 10 days.
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It’s interesting to note that the longest immersion procession in the nation is held in Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja. The immersion process starts at 10 a.m. and ends the next morning. Andhericha Raja’s immersion procession is the second-longest.
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Have you ever been to Lalbaugcha Raja?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
First Published: September 15, 2023 6:36 PM