In Mumbai, Ganeshotsav begins not with drums or fireworks, but with a single moment: the unveiling of Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most iconic Ganesh idol. On Sunday, at Putlabai Chawl, the curtain lifted to reveal the first look of Lalbaugcha Raja 2025. Dressed in magenta robes, the ‘King of Lalbaug’ once again drew gasps from devotees who had gathered to witness the moment.

Every year, lakhs of Mumbaikars, from commoners to celebrities, line up for the Lalbaugcha Raja darshan. The queues often stretch through the night, lasting 20–24 hours, a pilgrimage of endurance where rich and poor stand side by side, united in devotion.

The origins of Lalbaugcha Raja trace back to 1934, when fisherfolk and mill workers displaced from the Peru Chawl fish market vowed to install Lord Ganesha if land was allotted to them to rebuild their market. When the promise was fulfilled, they consecrated the first idol, dressed as a fisherman. Stories of answered prayers spread quickly, transforming the mandal into the most famous Ganesh pandal in Mumbai.

Today, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav is more than a local tradition. It is a phenomenon that attracts millions, from film stars and industrialists to ordinary citizens. Whether blessings are granted or not, the act of waiting in those long queues has itself become a sacred ritual of faith.

This year’s Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 begins on 27 August. For 10 days, the city will thrum with chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya, dhol beats, and vibrant processions. The celebrations will culminate in the Ganesh visarjan, when the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja will be immersed in the sea, symbolising his return, only to rise again next year.