Thousands celebrate Hindu God Ganesh at Mumbai festival

Thousands celebrate Hindu God Ganesh at Mumbai festival

"Thousands of Hindus gathered around elaborate pandals on Wednesday to celebrate the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, one of Mumbai's most important cultural events. The city was brought to life with colourful decorations and grand processions. Pandals, which are temporary structures erected to honour the gods and goddesses, were visible throughout Mumbai and other locations across the state, attracting thousands of worshippers during the celebrations. “Preparation began three months prior to the event; all the decorators and those who built the mandap and pandal started their work in July,” explained festival organiser Siddhi Sakthivan. During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees bring home beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha, perform rituals, and offer heartfelt prayers. “Today is very special," said devotee, Lakshu Kumar. "I am from Delhi, and it’s my first time experiencing this in Mumbai; it's truly a new and wonderful experience for me." The festival is characterised by joy, music, and communal celebrations across India. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by people of all castes, religions, and ages. “Our family brings Ganpati to our home, and we worship Ganesha for about 12 to 13 days during the festival. It has been a fantastic experience for me…I feel energised and refreshed,” Kumar added. This festival commemorates the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity in Hindu mythology, recognised also as the god of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles."