26 September,2026 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea at Chowpatty following the final rituals. Pic/ X
Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati idol reached Chowpatty in Mumbai's Girgaon on Saturday morning, marking the final leg of its Ganesh Visarjan journey as thousands of devotees gathered along the route.
The massive idol, covered in pink gulal, was carried through packed streets on a grand platform, with devotees dancing and joining the procession. Celebrations continued along the route as devotees showered each other with gulal.
The arrival at Chowpatty marks a key stage in the final journey of Lalbaugcha Raja, one of Mumbai's prominent public Ganesh idols.
The idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea at Chowpatty following the final rituals.
Reliance Industries Executive Director and Vantara founder Anant Ambani is also participating in the immersion procession.
The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal was established in 1932 in central Mumbai. More than nine decades later, the mandal continues to attract large numbers of devotees during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Ganpati Visarjan is observed across India on Anant Chaturdashi. This year, Anant Chaturdashi fell on Friday, September 25.
Lalbaugcha Raja's visarjan procession is known for its scale and duration, with the idol traditionally reaching Girgaum Chowpatty in the early hours of the following day. The final rituals and immersion are conducted at the beach.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 began on September 14, marking the start of the 12-day Ganeshotsav celebrations. The festival is observed with the installation of Lord Ganesha idols in homes and public spaces, followed by prayers, festive gatherings and offerings.
Devotees traditionally offer flowers, sweets and modaks to Lord Ganesha during the festival. The celebrations conclude with Ganesh Visarjan, when idols are immersed in water as devotees bid farewell to the deity.
A total of 34,403 Ganesh idols were immersed by 6 am on Saturday, September 26, as part of the 11th-day immersion process.
The figures included 6,235 public Ganesh idols, 27,615 household idols and 553 Gauri idols.
No untoward incident was reported during the immersion process until 6 am.
(With ANI inputs)
