Lalbaugcha Raja is among Mumbai’s most famous Sarvajanik Ganpatis. However, the idol of the Lalbaug Cha Raja is famous all over the world; lakhs of people turn up from far-off places, including foreigners and stand for hours in queues of several kilometers to take the ‘Darshan’ of the idol. To catch a glimpse of Lalbaug Cha Raja, devotees wait in queue for more than 8 hours at times in the weekdays and on weekends it goes up to 20 hours.
This year the devotees will have different experience while taking the ‘Darshan’ of their beloved Ganapati idol. The various attractive backdrop spectacle of the idol is center of attraction for everyone; however this backdrop will not be there this year. The idol will be seen in the ‘Pandal’ on September 13.
In the year 1987, the Lalbaug Cha Raja had appeared without a backdrop decoration. Now after 30 years the same is going to be repeated to give a special message to save environment. The Lalbaug Cha Raja Mandal has taken this decision in the wake of global warming. The ‘Pandal’ is decorated with use of the ‘Augmented Reality Technology’. Waterfall, dense forest, animals like Tiger, Lion, Deer and Peacocks will be seen in the decoration.
This decoration will be a visual treat to the devotees, Lalbaug Cha Raja Secretary Sudhir Salvi told ‘My Mahanagar’. “This time the Lalbaug Cha Raja Mandal is giving the message of saving the environment. Global warming has become a very serious issue across the world. The climate change affecting many lives all over the world. Therefore we have decided to make the eco-friendly decoration this year. The idol of Lalbaug Cha Raja will give the message to everyone that it is a responsibility of every human being to protect nature, said Salvi.”
Although the backdrop will not be there in the idol’s Pandal, but a special eco-friendly backdrop has been created for the immersion. The immersion of the idol takes almost 22 hours; the devotees can see the backdrop spectacle during the immersion.
The preparation of decoration for Lalbaug Cha Raja was started from the month of May and people could see a glimpse of this preparation during the ‘PadyaPujan’ (Feet Pooja) ritual. This preparation is now in the final stage, and everyone’s is so curious to see the final output.
Nitin Desai to make Eco-Friendly Spectacle
Like every year, the famous Art Director Nitin Desai is designing spectacle for the idol’s Pandal. After the Mandal decided to give the message of ‘Global Warming & Save Environment, Desai made the designs that promotes eco-friendly spectacle. He has used advanced technology of Augmented Reality of the decoration and the scenery in the Pandal.
