Mumbai witnessed an emotional farewell on Sunday as scores of devotees gathered at Girgaon Chowpatty beach to bid goodbye to the city’s most iconic Ganpati idol, Lalbaugcha Raja. The immersion, which was scheduled earlier in the evening, faced delays due to high tide and technical challenges. Officials now expect the visarjan to take place around 11 pm once the tide recedes.
The grand procession for Lalbaugcha Raja began yesterday as the idol was taken out of the pandal. Thousands of devotees thronged the streets to catch a final glimpse of “Bappa” before the immersion. Businessman Anant Ambani was also seen joining the procession, marking his presence on Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of the Ganpati festival.
Mandal honorary secretary Sudhir Salavi said that local fishermen advised waiting for the next high tide, which would allow the raft carrying the idol to float properly. “The final process of immersion will be carried out at that time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad reported mass celebrations as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) confirmed that over 2.70 lakh Ganpati idols had been immersed in various water bodies by Sunday evening, highlighting the scale of Anant Chaturdashi across the country.
The Lalbaugcha Raja immersion remains the most awaited moment of the festival, as devotees across Mumbai and beyond follow the live proceedings of the farewell of the beloved idol.
