Mumbai Bids Emotional Farewell to Lalbaugcha Raja as Anant...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 25 September 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

The 11-day annual Ganeshotsav festival reached its culmination on Friday, September 25, 2026, as the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja idol was moved out of its pandal in Central Mumbai to begin its final immersion procession toward Girgaon Chowpatty. Marking the 93rd year of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, hundreds of thousands of devotees lined the streets, chanting "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya" to catch a final glimpse of the deity.

The morning rituals commenced with the traditional Uttarpuja and aarti performed by the mandal office-bearers, after which the idol was ceremoniously shifted onto the traditional immersion raft. The procession route, traversing key arterial stretches including Bharat Mata, Byculla, Nagpada, and Metro Junction, witnessed heavy pedestrian movement as thousands accompanied the procession on foot.

Municipal and Security Infrastructure Deployed

To manage the massive congregation of devotees across the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Police implemented comprehensive security and crowd-management measures. Over 25,000 police personnel, alongside units from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Quick Response Teams (QRT), and Riot Control Police, were deployed along the primary procession corridors and at major immersion sites.

Civic authorities installed over 1,000 CCTV cameras along the Lalbaug-to-Girgaon route, integrated with real-time monitoring control rooms. Artificial ponds were also set up across municipal zones to handle smaller domestic and neighborhood idols, while specialized floating rafts, lifeguards, and Indian Navy diving teams were stationed at Girgaon Chowpatty to oversee the immersion of major public idols.

Historical Significance and Economic Footprint

Established in 1934 by local market traders and Koli community fishermen in Peru Chawl, the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal holds significant socio-cultural history in Mumbai. Known popularly as "Navsacha Ganpati" (the fulfiller of vows), the shrine draws an estimated 1.5 million visitors daily during the festival period, attracting pilgrims, public figures, and international tourists alike.

This year's 11-day event generated substantial economic activity for local businesses, transport services, and informal street vendors. The Mandal also collected routine voluntary offerings, including precious metals and cash donations, designated for community welfare projects, healthcare assistance, and educational initiatives managed by the trust throughout the year.

Traffic Diversions and Transport Operations

To facilitate the uninterrupted movement of the procession, the Mumbai Traffic Police issued extensive advisories restricting vehicular movement on major roads in Central and South Mumbai. Key corridors, including Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and various connecting arterial roads, were designated exclusively for pedestrian crowds and procession floats.

Public transportation operators, including Indian Railways and the BEST bus service, operated augmented schedules. Western Railway and Central Railway ran special overnight suburban train services on Anant Chaturdashi to assist returning devotees, while bus routes were detoured around active immersion zones until the completion of the procession late Friday night.