Ganapati Bappa - GSB Ganapati, Mumbai

GANAPATI BAPPA - GSB GANAPATI

Vijaya and I reached Mumbai on 16th Sep for a fortnight's stay here. We (it was Ashok-Neeraja to be precise) chose this time because it coincides with the festivities in Maharashtra particularly and the entire India in general - Ganeshotsav Festival.

Even though I have lived in Maharashtra during the 60's and early 70's, I have never visited Bombay during Ganeshotsav - this is my first time. The same evening (on 16th) we planned to "see" at least one Ganapati Seva Mandal. Vijaya's elder brother said there are two most important Mandals to choose from and he himself chose the GSB.

This Seva Mandal organised by Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community has been functioning for the past 50 plus years. This community is originally from South Kanara, Karnataka, but are now spread all over India, particularly in Mumbai. The Ganesh idol they install is 17 feet tall. It is at the Kings Circle (Wadala, Matunga).

This is supposed to be the RICHEST Ganapati in entire Mumbai. We reached the spot by 6-45PM and was surprised to see a queue for 2 km or longer ! Had we stood in this Q, we would have taken at least 3 hours to have the darshan. We learnt that there was a special paid darshan ticket (100.00 per) and we joined this paid Q (just 1/2 km long only !!!!). The other general Q was winding its way just like in Tirupati, a long serpentine line.

We "reached" the God in time and oh, words fail me to describe the feelings. Divine. To those who have seen the Athi Rudra Homam by Saibaba at Thiruvanmiyur, I can say this site at Mumbai is at least twice the size or larger - everything was in mega grand size and quantity. The Ganapati is adorned with pure gold, silver, and diamonds - worth OVER 9 CRORES. It was a splendour to see the Ganapati. A worthwhile visit.

The other Ganapati we couldn't see is at Lalbaugh (near Parel/Dadar). Known as "Lalbaugh cha Raja" this is supposed to be the most popular Ganapati mandal in Mumbai. You know, it was good we didn't go there on that Sunday - there was a crowd of over TEN LAKHS that day, people standing in Q for over 15 hours, many thousands stood from the midnight of Saturday ... uhh

As a bonus "news", I will add that yesterday (17th, Monday) Sachin Tendulkar visited the GSB Ganapati at Kings Circle and his photo is flashed in all newspapers today. Give him the Captaincy, Ganapati Bappa !!

rajappa
12:15 noon on 18 Sep 2007 from Mumbai

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