Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Lalbaugcha Raja First Look Unveiled

During Ganesh Chaturthi this year, here's when and where to watch Lalbaugcha Raja LIVE darshan

 The 12-foot-tall idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, one of the most revered and famous idols of Ganesha in Mumbai, India, has been unveiled in South Mumbai. This idol is installed and worshipped during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with great enthusiasm and devotion in the city, other parts of Maharashtra, and different states in India for a period of 10 days. Although Lalbaugcha Raja holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars and has become an integral part of the city's cultural and religious landscape, its tradition dates back to 1934 when the first idol was installed by the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. Since then, it has become an iconic symbol of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai.

As a result of intense rainfall in the mountainous region of Irshalwadi, located below Irshalgad in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, a crisis situation has arisen. In response, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal promptly mobilized to provide assistance to the citizens of Irshalwadi. The Mandal's emergency services team arrived at the site on Friday morning and offered aid to the villagers. Two large vehicles carrying relief materials were dispatched to Irshalwadi.

The Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal has a long-standing history of providing aid to those affected by natural disasters in Maharashtra. In the past, the Mandal has been involved in several relief efforts, including the reconstruction of Juhi village in Raigad following a natural disaster on July 26, 2005.

The current pandal housing the Lalbaugcha Raja idol is situated at the Lalbaug Police Station in the Lalbaug Market of South Mumbai. It is anticipated that the queue for the Charan-Sparsh will commence on Babasahed Ambedkar road, with approximately 5,000 individuals expected to attend the venue for darshan at any given time. In recent times, the organizers have facilitated a "live darshan" or virtual viewing of the Lalbaugcha Raja through webcams and live streams, thereby enabling a global audience to partake in the spirit of devotion, unity, and celebration that characterizes the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai.