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This year Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 27 August. The festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha who is the eliminator of obstacles. On auspicious occassions, the first prayer is offered to Lord Ganesh.
Lalbaugcha Raja Mumbai
New Delhi: Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to commomarate the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi or Vinayagar Chaturthi, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the country, reports Dynamite News correspondent.
This year Ganesh Chaturthi falls on Wednesday 27 August. The festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha who is the eliminator of obstacles. On auspicious occassions, the first prayer is offered to Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesh is also the god of wisdom and prosperity.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated through out the country but in Maharashtra, where it is also known as Ganeshotsav, is a grand 10-day festival.
The festival begins with the installing clay idols of Lord Ganesha in homes and massively decorated public pandals, followed by daily prayers and aartis for 10 days. Everyday the prasadam is distributed to all devotees. The festival culminates in a grand procession called Visarjan, where the idols are immersed in water bodies.
Lalbaugcha Raja, 'King of Lalbaug,' in Mumbai is a renowned and highly revered public Ganesh idol in Mumbai. It's a prominent part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, where millions of devotees come to seek blessings from the "wish-fulfilling" Ganesha.
Lalbaugcha Raja is known as 'Navasacha Ganpati' which means 'wish-fulfilling Ganesha'. It is widely believed that the Lalbaugcha Raja idol has the power to grant the wishes of those who offers prayers to Him with devotion.
The holy idol of Lalbaugcha Raja was first installed in 1934 by fishermen and traders who had lost their market due to the British government. All of them paid obeisence to Lord Ganesha for a new market. After their wish was fulfilled, they established the Lalbaugcha Raja idol as a symbol of their gratitude.
According to Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped for ten days in a ritualistic manner. The day on which he is immersed at the end of the puja is considered the most auspicious day to receive his blessings. Therefore, devotees bid farewell to Ganesha on this day with great pomp and in an auspicious time. This year, according to the Panchang, Ganpati Visarjan will take place on 6 September.
