Article has pictures of Mumbai’s most popular and best Ganpati idols (“Murti”) and “Pandals” in 2013. It also has information on Ganesh Chaturthi dates, Ganesh Visarjan (Immersion), auspicious Ganesh Pooja time, Ganesh Mandals and why is Ganesh Chaturti celebrated.
2013 Ganesh Chaturthi Dates: Start Date to Ganpati Visarjan
In 2013 Ganesh Chaturthi start date is September 9, 2013 and Ganpati Visarjan (Immersion) is on September 18, 2013.
- First Day of Ganesh Chaturthi in 2013: September 9, 2013 (Monday)
- Third Day of Ganesh Chaturti in 2013: September 11, 2013 (Wednesday)
- Fifth Day of Ganesha Chaturthi in 2013: September 13, 2013 (Friday)
- Seventh Day of Ganesh Chaturthi in 2013: September 15, 2013 (Sunday)
- Ganpati Visarjan Date in 2013 (last day of Ganesh Chaturthi): September 18, 2013 (Wednesday). As per Hindu calendar, 18 Sept, 2013 is “Anant Chaturdashi”, the day when Ganesha “Murtis” (Idols) are immersed in water bodies (sea, river, lake, ponds). “Ganpati Visarjan” (Ganpati Immersion) is a symbolic send-off for Ganesha who now travels to his home in Mount Kailash. As per the Indian Hindu calendar, Ganapati Visarjan occurs on “Anant Chaturdashi” and is also called “Vinayaka Nimarjana” (Telugu), “Ganesha Visarjane” (Kannada). Ganesh Visarjan brings to an end the Ganesh Utsav (Festival).
Auspicious Ganpati Puja (Aarti) Times for Ganesh Chaturti in 2013
Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple has declared auspicious “Madhyahana Puja” (Ganesh Puja) time from 11:22 am to 13:49 pm.
As per legend, Lord Ganesha’s birth took place during “Madhyahana Kaal” (midday). Hence, devotees prefer to perform Ganesh Puja (prayer) or Ganpati Aarti around midday. Auspicious Ganpati Aarti time may vary depending on place. 11:25 am to 1:30 pm is a good time to perform Ganpati Pooja during the 2013, Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Mumbai’s Most Famous Ganpati Idols, Pandals and Ganesh Mandals
- Some of Mumbai’s most famous Ganesh Idols and Pandals are LalBaugCha Raja, Ganesh Gali Ganpati, GSB Seva Mandal, Khetwadi 12 Galli, Khetwadi 11 Gali, Kethwadi 7 Gali, Chinchpoklicha Chintamani, Fort Icchapurti Ganesh, Teli Gali Ganesh, Parelcha Raja, Nare Park, Borivali Upnagarcha Raja, etc.
- Mumbai celebrities who keep Ganpati include Salman Khan, Nana Patekar, Jeetendra, Shilpa Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Rani Mukherjee, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Govinda, etc. The Kapoor’s R K Studios in Chembur keeps a Ganpati murti for full 10 days.
- Many of Mumbai’s large Mandals use Plaster Of Paris (POP) for their Ganesh Idols. POP allows Ganpati idol makers to create large and complex Ganapati idols. Unfortunately POP has an adverse impact on the environment. Sadly, not many Mumbai Mandals and Pandals have environmentally friendly Ganpati Idols. As environmental awareness has increased, so has the popularity of natural clay Ganpati idols. Natural clay is also known as “Shadu”.
Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganeshotsav (Ganesh Festival) in Mumbai
- Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai are unique. Large public Pandals and Mandaps (temporary structures) with Ganpati idols are set up throughout the city. It is a mass public festival with aarti/puja/prayers twice a day. Large crowds of people line up to pay their respects to Ganapati. The festival culminates with the immersion of the Ganpati Murti either in the Arabian Sea or local ponds and water bodies.
- Mumbai’s tradition of large public Ganesh celebration (“Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav”) was introduced by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, in 1893. In those days, India was under British rule and large gatherings were not allowed. Tilak started mass Ganapati street celebration to protest against the British, unite Indians (especially Brahmins and non-Brahmins) and to spread the message of independence (“Swaraj“).
- Mumbai has around 10,500 registered Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals. It is estimated that during Ganesh Utsav around 200,000 Ganesh idols are installed in Mumbai, of which 95% are in the houses of Mumbai’s resident.
Main Ganesh Idol Visarjan (Immersion) places in Mumbai
Ganesh Visarjan Places in South Mumbai
- Girgaum Chowpatty Beach
- Worli, near Lotus and opposite Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor statdium (NSCI)
- Artificial Ponds: Durgadevi Udhyan Dr M G Mahimtura Marg; Vir Jijamata Udhyan Byculla
NOTE: Many Central Mumbai Ganesh Mandals, such as Lalbaughcha Raja, Ganesh Gali Ganpati, prefer to immerse their Ganesh Murtis in Girgaum Chowpatty rather than Dadar Chowpaty.
Ganesh Visarjan Places in Central Mumbai
- Dadar Chowpatty, near Shivaji Park and Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at Chaitya Bhoomi
- Mahim Causeway
- Artificial Ponds: Major Dadkar Maidan; Mayor Bunglow, Dadar (West)
Ganesh Visarjan Places in Western Mumbai
- Juhu Beach along Juhu Tara Road
- Versova Beach, along JP Road, PS Ramle Road, Patli Gali, uptil Versova Jetty
- Bhujale Talao (Pond) in Malad West, near Nahar Nagar
- Aksa Beach and Marve Beach
- Gorai Jetty, Borivali West
- Artificial Ponds: Mahatma Gandhi Vidhyalay, Bandra (East); Gajkar Park Municipal School 16th Road, Khar (West); Dharamvir Sambhaji Kridagar, Khotwadi, Santacruz; Hagdewar Maidan, Hanuman Road, Ville Parle (East); Gaushala Lane Ram Leela Maidan, Malad (East); Fire Brigade Plot, Thakur Village, Kandivali (East); Kulupwadi, P.G. Plot, Boriwali (East); K Anantrao Bhosale Maidan, Boriwali (East); Murbadi Talao, Shiv Vallabh Road, Dahisar (East); DSF Club Chatrapati Shivaji Marg, Dahisar (East); Mahatre Wadi, J.S. Sawant Road, Dahisar (East)
Ganesh Visarjan Places in East and North Mumbai
- Sheetal Talao (aka Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Talav), just off LBS Marg, near Kamani Junction at Kurla West
- Powai Lake, along Adi Shankaracharya Marg, at Pawarwadi and Ganesh Ghat
- Artificial Ponds: Best Khushirina Society, Ghatkopar (East); Dattaji Salve Maidan Pitamaha Ramji Nagar, Barve Nagar, Ghatkopar (West); Akruli Road, Kanjur (East); Park Plot, Lokhandawal Fondation School, Kanjur (East); Sawapna Nagari, Mulund (West); Hari Om Nagari, Mulund (East); P.K.Road Manapa School, Mulund (West)
- Thane has many lakes like the Masunda Lake, Raila Devi Talao, Siddheshwar Lake, Kachrali Lake, Ambe Ghosle Lake, Madarde Kolbad Talav, etc
NOTE: BMC (Mumbai Municipality), usually creates 22 artificial ponds for devotees to immerse their idols. Worshipers, organizers and devotees are requested to use these artificial ponds for Ganapati Visarjan, since they are less damaging to the environment.
Why is Ganesh Chaturti (Ganesh Festival) Celebrated?
- Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated because Lord Ganesha was born on this day. Ganesh is the son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to legend, once there was no one to guard Goddess Paravati when she wanted to take a bath; so Parvati created Ganesha from turmeric and sandalwood paste to stand guard for her.
- While Ganesh was standing guard, his father Shiva arrived and asked that he see Parvati. Shiva was not aware that Ganesha was his son. Ganesha refused to let Lord Shiva see his mother. This angered Shiva and he cut off Ganesha’s head. When Parvati learnt of Ganesha’s death, she took on the form of Adishakti, the primordial power who has the ability to destroy the entire universe. To prevent destruction, Lord Shiva relented and replaced Ganesh’s head with the head of a dead elephant cub. Shiva christened his son Ganesha (Lord of the Ganas) and declared that henceforth Ganesha will be worshiped by everyone before starting any activity.
- Lord Ganesha is the Hindu God of Intelligence, Prosperity, Arts, Sciences and the Remover of obstacles; hence before starting any new venture, Hindu’s invoke Lord Ganesh’s name. Lord Ganesha has many names, of which the popular ones are Ganpati, Vinayaka, Siddhivinayaka, Vighneshvara , Kirti, Omkara, Pille, Pillaiyar, Aiyanayaka, Tarun, etc. The “Ganesha Sahasranama” contains the 1000 names of Lord Ganesh.
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