TOI Ganeshotsav series: A walk through Mumbai’s grandest and oldest pandals; scaling new creative heights | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: With the high court and state govt having lifted multiple curbs on plaster of paris (PoP), giant creative Ganpati idols have risen across Mumbai this Ganeshotsav. TOI launches its annual series on festive sarvajanik Ganesh pandals that display remarkable grandeur and creativityChinchpokli Cha ChintamaniThe venerable 106-year-old Ganpati of the Girangaon (mill land) belt lords over a grand palatial setting. Chinchpokli’s new president Pradip Haryan said, “Our theme is based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. People have been rediscovering the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji through recent films and books.”
This year the idol of the Chintamani has been sculpted by moortikar Siddhesh Dighole, who had started as an apprentice to veteran idolmaker Vijay Khatu. The deity’s aagman yatra Aug 17 drew a large crowd of people estimated to number one lakh.Ganesh Gully, LalbaugA charming replica of the Rameshwaram Jyotirling of Tamil Nadu houses the 98-year-old Mumbaicha Raja of Ganesh Gully. Swapnil Parab, mandal secretary, says carved pillars, embellished walls, traditional kunds (water tanks) and a large Nandi the Bull greet visitors to this Shiv temple. A wave of nostalgia is sweeping devotees who are arriving to see the Ganesh idol sculpted by Hyderabad based moortikar Akash Tirmal.
They say it harks back to the days of master craftsmen like Welling and Vijay Khatu. Ganesh Gully’s neighbouring mandal of Lalbaugcha Raja did not share information on current year festivities.Khetwadi 10th LaneSculptor Krunal Patil considers this idol one of his best works this season. The Khetwadi 10th Lane mandal named Om Tandav is celebrating its 45th season with a Jal tatva (water) theme. Mandal president Anil Kambli said, “Our idol stands an impressive 40 ft tall and an innovative trolley that rotates 360 degrees gives a full panoramic view.
Our mandal has earned great recognition across Mumbai and Maharashtra. Beyond Ganeshotsav we actively contribute to society through various initiatives throughout the year, including free medical camps, Shiv Jayanti celebrations, Diwali lantern distribution and affordable foodgrains for the needy.”Kalachowkie Cha MahaganpatiOnlookers stood agape as moortikar Siddhesh Dighole’s ‘Shankar roopi avatar’ of the Mahaganpati led its aagman yatra Aug 3. Former secretary Aman Dalvi says, “It is a marvel how our 22 ft tall idol reaches the pandal through an alley that is 8 ft wide and lined with chawls that rise 13 ft high!”
Veteran mandal member Pandurang Dabholkar says they make sure to preserve the cultural quotient with a women’s lezim troupe, Koli dance and palkhi procession. A core committee of 20 members leads this celebration involving 20 societies in Kalachowkie.Keshavji Naik Chawl, GirgaumAmid the grandeur a 2 ft idol maintains the essence of community. The first sarvajanik Ganeshotsav of Mumbai turns 133 this year. The dedicated team of Keshavji Nak Chawl in Girgaum preserves the spirit of the public festival engendered by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893. “We maintain a balance between tradition and modernity,” said secretary Kumar Walekar.
The small idol is surrounded by intricate South Indian style carvings. Young instrumentalists will perform the sitar, tabla and flute and children will chant sacred mantras. The mandal’s I-T team has launched a social media campaign with informative posts, videos and interactive stories.
