Lalbaug

Lalbaug is a neighborhood in Parel, Mumbai. Lalbaug lies in the approximate center of Mumbai, near Dadar, and Parel, and has been a famous center for reunions of Hindus during their festivals, especially the Ganesh festival. There are prominent Ganeshotsav organizations in and around Lalbaug, as well as many sculpture workshops. Prior to the Ganesh festivals, these workshops are flooded with various-sized statues of Ganesha, the elephant-headed God which the people worship. Lalbaug also marks the center of different mills that flourished in Mumbai during British rule; The Kohinoor Mill, the Finlay Mill and the Morarjee Mill to name a few. At that time, most of the community worked in these mills and it was a major source of livelihood for a majority of them.

History

The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in 1934, because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place prayed to Ganesha for a permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman and, since that day forward, the Lord Ganesh has become popular, as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.

Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of the Ganesh Immersion Procession. However, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession followed the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M. S. Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified, and accordingly, the Mandal decided to contribute to the uplift of the country. The Mandal donated its available assets to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.

During Silver Jubilee Year in 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers such as M. L. Patil, Honorable Minister of Bombay State, Honorable Ganapatrao Tapase, Honorable Govindrao Adik, Honorable Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr. Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde, Dy. Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, delivered speeches.

After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programs and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programs were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.

During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination and exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.

During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, H. B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U. A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B. D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai and Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 and 1965.

In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.

Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.

It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.

Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts and experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft), which makes it possible to conveniently submerge the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering. In 2010/11 the tarafas were imported from Australia

Present day

In 2009, the Mandal expected approximately ten million people to visit this 'Great Raja'.

Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal Website