15 September,2026 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Fadnavis had on Monday welcomed Lord Ganesha at Varsha and offered prayers for the well-being and prosperity of Maharashtra, particularly its farmers. Pic/X
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday offered prayers to Lord Ganesha at his official residence, Varsha, in south Mumbai as Ganeshotsav 2026 continued across the state.
Fadnavis had on Monday welcomed Lord Ganesha at Varsha and offered prayers for the well-being and prosperity of Maharashtra, particularly its farmers. He also appealed to citizens to celebrate the festival in a traditional manner while taking steps to keep pollution levels to a minimum.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Fadnavis urged people to focus on traditional celebrations during the 11-day festival and avoid activities that could contribute to pollution.
"May the vignaharta (the Lord who takes away sorrow) bring happiness. Our country, state, people and farmers get peace and prosperity. I urge people to keep pollution at minimum and celebrate the festival traditionally," he told reporters.
His appeal came as Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations began across Maharashtra, with authorities and civic bodies facing concerns over noise and environmental pollution during the festive period.
Fadnavis' comments also came amid calls for restrictions on the use of high-decibel DJ sound systems during Ganeshotsav.
The use of loud music and sound systems during processions and celebrations has remained a contentious issue, with residents and environmental groups raising concerns about noise pollution. Calls for tighter restrictions have intensified ahead of the festival's major immersion processions.
While Ganeshotsav is traditionally marked by music, cultural performances and processions, organisers and devotees have also been urged to follow prescribed noise limits and other civic guidelines.
Ganesh Chaturthi, which marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, is being celebrated across Maharashtra and several other parts of the country.
The festival sees devotees bringing Lord Ganesha idols into homes and community pandals, followed by daily prayers and cultural programmes. The celebrations culminate with the immersion of the idols, with different groups observing immersion on different days.
In Maharashtra, the festival has a particularly prominent place in public and community life, with Mumbai witnessing some of the largest celebrations.
In Mumbai, one of the traditional centres of Ganeshotsav, large numbers of devotees gathered at prominent pandals to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
At the famed Lalbaugcha Raja pandal, devotees converged to catch a glimpse of the deity as celebrations continued amid chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya".
The festival draws visitors from across Mumbai and neighbouring areas, with several major public pandals attracting large crowds during the 10-day celebration.
