Sept 08, 2025

The immersion of Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh idol at Girgaon Chowpatty turned into an unusual and controversial event this year after being delayed by nearly 13 hours. The setback not only disrupted long-followed traditions but also triggered discontent among devotees and the city’s fishermen community.

Normally, the 18-foot-tall idol’s procession begins on Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi, and concludes with its immersion the following morning, around 9 am. This year, however, a high tide in the morning forced organisers to postpone the ritual. The idol was finally immersed at 10:30 pm on Sunday. The delay coincided with the “sutak” period, considered spiritually inauspicious during a lunar eclipse, further disappointing worshippers.

Another break from tradition came with the introduction of a high-tech automated platform for the immersion. For decades, the idol was placed on a floating platform built with boats from the Koli fishing community. Technical snags in this new system left the idol stranded at Girgaon Chowpatty for several hours, intensifying frustration. Members of the fishing community expressed anger, saying they were “sidelined” from a tradition they helped establish in 1934. They argued that their ancestors had vowed to install Lalbaugcha Raja during a crisis, and hence, they should not be excluded from the ritual.

Fishermen also pointed out that they were once given a full day to participate in festivities, but that time gradually reduced over the years. This year, they were denied even the symbolic role of witnessing the final immersion from their boats. According to them, the attempt to modernize the ritual with machinery failed, and they believe “Lord Ganesh himself stopped the immersion” to allow them one last chance to offer prayers.

Organisers also faced criticism over alleged “VIP culture” at the pandal, with claims that celebrities and politicians were given priority access while ordinary devotees were made to wait or pushed aside. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut added to the debate, saying he has never visited Lalbaugcha Raja because he does not want to add to the already overwhelming crowds.

The grand immersion also saw its share of criminal activity. Police reported over 50 mobile phones stolen and seven cases of gold chain snatching during the procession. Fifteen arrests were made, and several stolen phones were recovered.

This year’s immersion of Lalbaugcha Raja will be remembered not only for its delay but also for the controversies surrounding tradition, technology, and treatment of devotees.