Ganesh festival : Dharavicha Raja

Last week on the way to my office I had seen this huge Ganesh idol at Dharavi. It was probably the most prominent one in the area since it had been named 'Dharavicha Raja' (King of Dharavi). Now this suffix of 'cha Raja' is usually used in this context to signify the might and popularity of an idol. Every area has its own. Chemburcha Raja, Vikhrolicha Raja, Dahisarcha Raja. The biggest in Bombay being the Lalbaugcha Raja at Lalbaug, Parel. This is traditionally the biggest idol in Bombay. In earlier times it used to rise to dizzying heights, but a few years back there was some restriction posed on the size (maybe due to manouvering and immersion time problems) and hence what we see now (although this is also huge) is smaller than the one in the good old days.

Anyway this one at Dharavi was good. It was in an open pandal, meaning that one could go right in - no queues and all - infact one can see the idol from the road itself. I was told that the ones that have the tents surrounding the idol are the ones where the organisers have spent on elaborate decorations inside. The open ones dont have so much of decorations etc. Anyway the organisers here were delighted that someone wanted to take pictures of the idol. They made way from the little crowd inside and actually brought me bang in front of the idol so that I could get a good snap. Thanks to them. They then offered me the 'prasad' consisting of a coconut and a banana (which I ate soon after, else it would get squised inside my bag).

Also another fact that came to light during the festival. Ganesh Idols in South Bombay are more bigger and lavish than the ones on Salsette Island (suburbs). Obviously due to more money being pumped in by businessmen, diamond merchants, jewellers, stock brokers etc. - the money types.