Mumbai’s most famous Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals

Mumbai may not have a royal family but the “rajas” are making their way back to the streets of the city this year. After two years of subdued Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, the city’s biggest Ganesh mandals are back with a bang—rather a dhol-tasha. Extravagant themes, towering idols and dazzling ornaments—here’s your guide to Mumbai’s biggest Ganpati mandals in 2022.

Lalbaugcha Raja, Parel

Parel’s Lalbaugcha Raja is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Ganesh pandals in Mumbai and the country. The pandal was first set up at the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Lalbaug Market in 1935. Madhusudan D Kambli was the first sculptor of the iconic idol and his family has continued to take on the mantle for over eight decades. The first idol was just about 5 feet tall, but over the years, the height grew to a standard 15 feet—in 2020, pandemic restrictions brought down the height of Lalbaugcha Raja to 3-4 feet for the first time in years. Lalbaugcha Raja is known to resemble a slim human-esque figure, straying away from typical depictions of Ganesh as being pot-bellied and chubby—the family even has a copyright for the face of Lalbaugcha Raja. At this pandal, serpentine queues, crowds and hours of waiting are the norm, but the infectious energy and ghee-soaked ladoos might just make it worth it.
The theme: Ayodhya Ram Mandir
How long it’s been around: 89 years
What stands out: The ghee-soaked boondi ladoos offered as prasad

Mumbaicha Raja, Khetwadi, Girgaon

Each of the 12 lanes in Khetwadi, Girgaon, has its own Ganesh pandal, and every year, there’s a sense of friendly competition among them. In Ganesh Galli, very close to Lalbaugcha Raja, is Mumbaicha Raja. The pandal is known to replicate one Hindu temple from around the country each year to give devotees who cannot make the long pilgrimages a glimpse into the fascinating destinations. In 2022, the pandal’s design is inspired by the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. The idol is 22 feet tall and is seated in a lotus. The idol’s first sculptor was Dinanath Veling, who was also the first to propose the idea for a tall idol to the mandal in 1977. Though Veling passed away in 1990, the mandal continues his legacy of building a larger-than-life Ganesh idol even today.
The theme: Kashi Vishwanath
How long it’s been around: 95 years
What stands out: The pandal’s themes each year are its main selling point. In the past, the mandal has created replicas of the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, the Kedarnath temple in the Himalayas and Hawa Mahal in Rajasthan.

Girgaoncha Raja, Girgaum Chowpatty

“Keep calm, the King is coming”, read photo captions on the official Girgaoncha Raja Instagram handle. Organised by the Nikadwari Lane Sarvajanik Shree Ganeshotsav Mandal, Girgaoncha Raja is popular for being a massive, 20-feet tall eco-friendly Ganesh idol. The mandal was established in 1928 and the pandal this year is built by sculptor Rajan Pathak. The idol’s distinctive feature is the majestic Rajwadi pheta (turban) on its head.
The theme: 95 ways to save the environment
How long it’s been around: 95 years
What stands out: The idol has always been created with “shadu” or natural clay.

GSB Seva Mandal Mahaganapati, King’s Circle, Matunga

One of the ‘richest’ Ganesh pandals in the city, the Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Seva Mandal Mahaganapati is popular for the shimmering gold ornaments draped around the idol. This year, the mandal has taken an insurance cover of Rs316.4 crore—possibly the highest insurance cover taken by a mandal for the festivities. The insurance covers gold, silver and other valuable items as well as insurance for all the staff at the pandal, including priests, valet staff, cooks and security guards. Unlike other major pandals in the city, this one celebrates the festival for five days rather than 10. The mandal also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on banana leaves for devotees. Meals include simple Konkani preparations and sweets like payasam or doodh paak. The appe or sweet paniyarams that are typically a part of the prasad bags are a crowd favourite.
How long it’s been around: 68 years
What stands out: The idol is typically adorned with over 60kg of pure gold

Andhericha Raja, Azad Nagar, Andheri

Known as the “wish-fulfiller”, Andhericha Raja is set up by the Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti. The pandal is so popular that in 2019, the samiti applied for a copyright for its idol, which has remained the same over the years. If you want to sponsor the idol, you would have to get on a waitlist—sponsor bookings for Andhericha Raja are locked until 2062! The pandal has a different design inspiration every year, and has had themes like heaven, the Palace of Mysore and the Dilwara temple.
The theme: Laxmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara
How long it’s been around: 53 years
What stands out: Andhericha Raja has one of the longest visarjan processions in the city, passing through Veera Desai Road, Azad Nagar, Andheri Market, Apna Bazaar, 7 Bungalows and Versova. The procession starts at 5pm on Sankashti and reaches the sea shore the next morning.

Khetwadicha Ganraj, Khetwadi, Girgaon

In the 11th lane of Khetwadi is this year’s tallest Ganesh idol in Mumbai—Khetwadicha Ganraj. The 12th Khetwadi SGM mandal was established in 1959 and began taking small donations to build a Ganesh idol in 1984. Finally, in 2000, they built a 40 feet tall Ganesh idol—the highest Ganesh idol in Indian history. This year, the idol is 38 feet tall and has been designed as Parashurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The theme: Parashurama
How long it’s been around: 22 years
What stands out: It’s the tallest idol in the city, so if the crowds are too much, you could still get a good glimpse from a distance.

Mumbaicha Peshwa, Vile Parle

With a height of 21 feet, Mumbaicha Peshwa will be the tallest eco-friendly idol in the city this year. Sculptors Raju Mayekar and his father Digambar Mayekar made the idol with tissue paper and banana fibres, held together by gum and chalk powder. As a result, the idol remains lightweight despite its height and will melt like flower waste when immersed in water during the visarjan.
The theme: Tissue paper murti
How long it’s been around: 14 years
What stands out: The idol dissolves faster than other idols after the immersion

Chinchpoklicha Chintamani

Nestled under the Chinchpokli flyover, this Ganpati pandal has been around for over a hundred years. “Chintamani” stands for “he who takes away all worries”, and devotees crowd the narrow lanes in the area to get a glimpse and darshan of the 23 feet Chinchpoklicha Chintamani. In the early 1920s—the pandal’s early years—the idol would be just about two or three feet high.
How long it’s been around: 102 years
What stands out: It manages to maintain a loyal fan base despite the Lalbaugcha Raja located nearby.