Mumbai’s public Ganesh mandals can now apply online for permissions to set up pandals for Ganeshotsav 2026. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) website will accept applications from till September 13. The online facility is available under ‘For Citizens – Pandal (Public Ganeshotsav/Navratri/Other Festivals)’. Applications will first be scrutinised by the office, after which no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the local police and traffic police will be obtained through the system. BMC has also directed all public Ganesh mandals to comply with the Bombay High Court’s orders concerning public Ganeshotsav.
How mandals can apply for pandal permissions
Mandals seeking permission to set up a public Ganeshotsav pandal on public or private land for the first time will have to apply online. After scrutiny by the concerned ward office, police and traffic NOCs will be processed through the system. The mandal will then have to pay a ₹100 fee, following which the authorities will issue the permission.
Mandals that received five-year permission last year will need to submit a fresh online application for 2026. The ward office will physically verify that the pandal’s location and area match the approved permission before the police and traffic NOCs are obtained online. The permission will be renewed after payment of the ₹100 fee. Those that had permission for only one year in 2025 can either apply for 2026 alone or opt for a five-year permission covering 2026 to 2030. Applications for public Ganeshotsav pandals can be submitted online from August 14 to September 13, 2026. For public Navratri celebrations, applications will be accepted from September 10 to October 10, 2026, with permissions valid until October 21.
Two volunteers must attend BMC training
As part of its crowd-management measures for Ganeshotsav 2026, BMC will conduct one-day training workshops at the ward level. The sessions will cover areas including crowd management, fire safety and first aid. Each public Ganesh mandal will be required to nominate two volunteers to attend the training.
BMC asks mandals not to dig roads or footpaths
The civic body has urged mandals to avoid digging roads and footpaths while constructing pandals and instead use hole-free installations. Action will be taken against those who fail to comply. Mandals will also have to adhere to the conditions laid down in the Licensing Department’s circular and applicable advertising rules. Fire safety measures will be mandatory, while mandals must also follow health-related directions issued by the government from time to time to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
