14 September,2026 11:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ganesha idols are carried to homes and neighbourhood pandals as Ganeshotsav begins in Mumbai. File pic
Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated across Mumbai with immense enthusiasm. On Monday, devotees welcomed beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha into their homes and public pandals to mark the beginning of the 10-day festival
Across cities, elaborate decorations, illuminated pandals, devotional rituals and cultural programmes have added to the festive atmosphere, with devotees offering prayers, flowers, sweets and other traditional offerings to Lord Ganesha.
The celebrations will culminate in Anant Chaturdashi on September 25, when devotees traditionally bid farewell to the deity through immersion processions.
The origin of Ganesh Chaturthi in its present public form in Maharashtra is traced to Keshavji Nayak Chawl in Girgaum, Mumbai, where freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak began the first 'sarvajanik' Ganeshotsav in 1893. The initiative was aimed at bringing people together and garnering public support for India's freedom struggle.
However, the Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust maintains that the public celebration of Ganeshotsav in Pune was started by Bhausaheb Rangari in 1892, making the origins of the public festival a matter of historical significance for both Mumbai and Pune, as per IANS.
The formal celebrations began with Pran Pratishtha ceremonies, with families and community groups conducting pujas, aartis and mantra chanting as the idols were installed.
Lalbaug, Parel, Girgaon, Andheri, Chembur and Fort have been illuminated with colourful decorations, while markets across the city witnessed a rush of last-minute shoppers. Dadar, Crawford Market and Lohar Chawl saw devotees picking up makhar decorations, fresh flower garlands, sweets and other ceremonial items, accroding to PTI.
Lalbaug continues to remain one of the biggest centres of Ganeshotsav in Mumbai, with popular pandals including Lalbaugcha Raja, Chinchpokli, Ganesh Gully and Tejukaya attracting devotees.
In Matunga, the GSB Seva Mandal has once again decorated its idol with elaborate gold ornaments and secured a multi-crore insurance policy for the valuable offerings. The mandal is also drawing long queues for its daily rituals.
Other prominent celebrations are being held by Sahyadri Mandal in Tilak Nagar, Fort Vibhag Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in south Mumbai, Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samitee in Andheri and various Khetwadi Ganpati mandals in Girgaon.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
