Story of Lalbaugcha Raja
The Kambli family members, the original creators of the idol, have been sculpting Ganpati idols since 1920. They began making the idol for this mandal in 1935. The design and decoration of the Lalbaugcha Raja idol is unique; Ganesha is sculpted with a slim face, seated on a throne like a human. Lalbaugcha Raja has inspired countless idol makers to imitate the design for other Mandals and home worship.
The trend pushed the Kambli family to patent their design. The makers now have a patent to make idols in the traditional mould. Nobody had ever patented a Ganapati idol design until then.
Ratnakar Kambli Jr, the third-generation sculptor in the Kambli family, is nearly 80 years old now. Every year, Kambli Arts sculpts the idol in parts in its workshop and then assembles them at the display area in the Pandal to paint. Ratnakar draws the eyes and lends the final touch to the idol, which is usually around 18–20 feet tall.
This Mandal is located in South Mumbai’s Lalbaug neighbourhood. In the 11 days of celebration, the who’s who of Mumbai — from leading industrialists and state leaders to the Ambani family and Bollywood celebrities — queue up in this mandal to seek the deity’s blessings. On Anant Chaturdashi, he is led in a grand procession to Girgaum Chowpatty for Visarjan (immersion) in the Arabian Sea.
Why Lalbaugcha Raja is Famous?
Due to industrialisation, the market area in South Mumbai experienced deficits and closed in 1932, which had an impact on the daily lives of the local fishermen and sellers. They resorted to their cherished elephant-headed deity of fresh starts, Ganesha. Fortunately for localities, they were presented with a plot of land to construct what is today known as the Lalbaug market.
Upon the local community’s decision to reserve a portion of the land for the annual Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, or social celebration of the festivities, a statue of the elephant god was made in 1934. Being a member of this community, Ganesha was attired like a fisherman, though the Ganesha statue had many different incarnations. Ganesha was deemed the title of king and began as the community’s guardian goddess.
Lalbaugcha Raja, known as the desire-fulfilling Ganesha or the Navasacha Ganapathi festival at Mumbai, folks wait for the arrival of Ganapati Bappa.
