By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai : The heart of Mumbai pulsed with devotion on Saturday as the immersion of Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most iconic Ganesh idol, began its long journey from Lalbaug to Girgaon Chowpatty. Despite heavy rains, pothole-ridden roads, and massive traffic restrictions, tens of thousands of devotees gathered along the route to catch a glimpse of the beloved Raja and bid him farewell with chants, dhol-tasha beats, and vibrant processions.
Security across the city was unprecedented, with more than 18,000 police personnel and thousands of officers deployed to manage crowds. AI-driven systems were also in place to monitor traffic and oversee real-time movement of the processions. In total, 84 roads were completely shut, 88 saw restricted movement, and 54 were converted into one-way routes to allow the immersions to proceed smoothly.
By late Saturday evening, Lalbaugcha Raja’s majestic procession had reached close to Girgaon Chowpatty, where the final immersion is scheduled during the auspicious muhurat between 9:28 pm and 1:45 am, extending into the early morning hours of Sunday. According to religious calendars, the idol is expected to be immersed around dawn, bringing the curtain down on this year’s ten-day-long Ganeshotsav.
For Mumbaikars, watching Lalbaugcha Raja’s farewell is not merely about tradition—it is a deeply emotional and spiritual moment. As the idol makes its way into the Arabian Sea, the chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” echo across the city, carrying both devotion and hope for the year ahead.
