Mumbai: Take A Glimpse Of The First Pics Of Lalbaugcha Raja

After Janmashtami the people of Mumbai are all set to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. The first look of the most popular Lalbaugcha Raja was unveiled on Friday.

The Lalbaugcha Raja is said to be 12 feet this year. The 10-day festival kickstarts on September 19 with thousands of devotees gathering at the Lalbaugcha to catch a glimpse of Bappa.

The Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal has been installing the Ganpati idol at its pandal in Central Mumbai since 1934. Ganesh Chaturthi is enthusiastically celebrated in Mumbai and various regions of Maharashtra.

The festival is worshipped following all sixteen rituals known as the Shodashopachara Puja accompanied by chanting of Puranik Mantras. These sixteen steps encompass various aspects of worship.

Idol makers in the city have been working around the clock. However, people of Mumbai are bit choosy about the idols of Bappa. Some like to buy it from the same shop, some love to opt Bappa in a customized way.

Bappa's festival begins with the installation of Ganesha's idols at homes and in public places. The 10 day festival ends when the idol is carried in a public procession and immersed (visarjan) in a river or sea on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.

Earlier on Friday, Ganpati Special train, named "Namo Express", from Mumbai's Dadar station to Konkan was flagged off by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said that the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has arranged six special trains and 338 buses for devotees going to the Konkan region for the upcoming festival.