Lalbaugcha Raja Idol Reaches Girgaum Chowpatty for Final Visarjan

Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati idol arrived at Girgaum Chowpatty on Saturday morning, drawing thousands of devotees to witness the final stage of the city's 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. The towering idol, coated in pink gulal, was transported on a large platform through densely packed streets as crowds danced alongside the procession. Devotees showered one another with gulal, turning the route into a vibrant celebration.

The idol's arrival at Chowpatty marks a pivotal moment in its farewell journey. Lalbaugcha Raja is among Mumbai's most prominent public Ganesh idols, and its visarjan procession is noted for both its scale and duration. The idol typically reaches the immersion point in the early hours of the day following Anant Chaturdashi, often between 6 am and 10 am, with final rituals and immersion taking place in the morning or early afternoon. This year, Anant Chaturdashi fell on Friday, September 25.

The mandal behind Lalbaugcha Raja was established in 1932 in central Mumbai. More than nine decades later, it continues to attract millions of visitors during Ganesh Chaturthi and remains one of the city's most recognised public celebrations. Reliance Industries Executive Director and Vantara founder Anant Ambani was also expected to take part in the event.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 began on September 14, launching the 10-day Ganeshotsav. The festival is observed across India with the installation of Lord Ganesha idols in homes and public spaces, followed by days of prayers, gatherings and offerings that traditionally include flowers, sweets and modaks. The celebrations conclude with Ganesh Visarjan, when idols are immersed in water as devotees bid farewell to the deity. In Mumbai and across Maharashtra, elaborate processions bring large numbers of devotees to designated immersion points, where prayers and farewell rituals are performed before the idols are consigned to the water.