In pictures: Ganesh's journey through Mumbai

You don’t have any Active Subscription.

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Maharashtra’s elaborate Ganesh Chaturthi pandals transform the state into a celebration of culture and faith every year. Mumbai especially creates large pandals in every neighbourhood and celebrates the festival for 10 days. Thousands of people visit these creations during this period and with every year, the fervour and crowds have only increased. After the festival, the grand stage / shrine is dismantled and the clay idols are immersed at sea. 

Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai has been defining its cultural identity for the last several years. From start to finish, the city celebrates the occasion with pride. An artist gives final touches to a Ganesh idol inside a workshop at Parel in Mumbai.

Mumbai organises large pandals in many areas. A ganesh idol ‘Fort cha Yuvraj’ is taken via BMC headquarters and CSMT building towards the pandal before the festival in Mumbai.

Mumbai's Parel area also comes alive with devotion during this period. Firecrackers lighting up the streets during the procession of 'Parel cha Raja' as the idol reaches its pandal.

Many people get involved in making the festival a grand success. People throng around the Chandanwadi area’s 'Goad Ganpati' during its aagman in Girgaon.

Mumbai's Lalbaug area creates an elaborately themed pandal every year. The entry gate outside Lalbaugcha Raja pandal being set up before the celebrations. Thousands of people including celebrities visit these pandals.

Lalbaugcha Raja is Mumbai's most famous idol as it was established in 1934. This pandal witnesses an overwhelming footfall every year. A massive crowd of devotees offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. The primary reason for its immense popularity is the deep belief that this Ganesha is a Navasacha Ganapati, meaning 'the one who fulfils all wishes'. Devotees truly believe that praying here with sincere devotion ensures their desires are granted. Several celebrities and public figures have been seen seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha at Mumbai’s famous Lalbaugcha Raja pandal since the festival started.

This year, September 25, 2026 was the last day of these festivities where idols are taken to the sea to be immersed. 'Tejukaya cha Raja' on its way towards Girgaon Chowpatty beach for immersion on the last day of Ganeshotsav festival in Mumbai on September 25, 2026.

'Tejukaya cha Raja' was given a grand send-off as the idol emerged out from the pandal, as the Ganeshotsav comes to an end. At Swarajyabhoomi (Girgaon Chowpatty), one of the major immersion locations, the civic body has arranged 12 artificial ponds, 20 observation towers, 22 rafts, 90 toilets, three ambulances and around 1,000 personnel.

Devotees bid farewell to 'Mumbaicha Raja' amid celebrations, as the idol is being taken to the sea on Friday, September 25, 2026. The BMC said that it has made necessary arrangements at 67 natural immersion sites, including 44 beaches and jetties and 23 natural lakes, for idols more than six feet in height.

'Parel cha Maharaja' being taken to the sea by devotees for the 'visarjan'. Girgaon Chowpatty is one of Mumbai's key immersion points. The civic body has deployed 25,000 personnel for looking after immersion arrangements in the city.

Devotees participate in a procession as 'Parel cha Lambodar' was being taken to the Girgaon Chowpatty beach in Mumbai. Several processions were accompanied by traditional dhol-tasha troupes, while devotees danced and chanted devotional slogans.

Some devotees across Mumbai bid an emotional early farewell to Lord Ganesh on the second day of Ganeshotsav on September 15, 2026. To reduce crowding at natural water bodies and promote an eco-friendly festival, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had set up over 380 artificial immersion ponds at 278 locations for household idols.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.