MUMBAI, INDIA, September 2, 2011 (Dalij World): The entire city was decked in rich colors with chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Maurya’ resounding in every nook and corner of Mumbai on Thursday September 1, as people gathered in the thousands to welcome the first day of the 11-day Ganesh festival.
The financial capital wore a festive look, with people from all walks of life joining hands to hail the Elephant God. Statues of all sizes and colors bedecked streets and homes, and in the evening the devotees performed the maha aarti.
Reports said that nearly two hundred thousand statues were installed across the city, of which 10,350 were at Ganesh Mandals. Over 12,500 registered associations, apart from the 40,000 private housing complexes, have been preparing for the festival for the past few weeks.
Among the various pandals across the city, ‘Lal Baughcha Raja’ (King of Lalbaug area) in central Mumbai, with a 12-foot tall statue towering over the devotees, attracted huge crowds.