Mumbai’s iconic Mumbaicha Raja of Ganeshgalli will undertake a first-of-its-kind deep-sea immersion on Friday, with the 22-foot idol being transported into deeper waters on a specially equipped barge after its traditional procession from Lalbaug to Girgaon Chowpatty.
MUMBAI, Sept 2026 : Mumbai’s century-old Ganeshotsav tradition is set to witness a new chapter this year as the iconic Mumbaicha Raja of Ganeshgalli prepares for a first-of-its-kind deep-sea immersion of its 22-foot Ganpati idol.
The Ganeshgalli mandal, which is celebrating its 99th anniversary, will begin the immersion procession at 7 am on Friday, September 25, following the final Maha Aarti. The procession will follow the traditional route from Lalbaug towards Girgaon Chowpatty before the massive idol is taken into deeper waters for visarjan.
According to the mandal, the deep-sea immersion is scheduled between 8 pm and 11 pm on Friday. A modern, specially equipped barge will be used to transport the towering idol from the shoreline into deeper waters, where the immersion will be carried out.
The initiative has received approvals from the Maharashtra Maritime Board, Mumbai Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), according to the organisers.
The mandal has described the arrangement as a pioneering step designed to address the logistical challenges involved in immersing a 22-foot idol. Instead of conducting the immersion directly near the shoreline, the idol will be transported into deeper waters aboard the barge.
The specially designed vessel will accommodate the requirements involved in safely moving and handling the large idol. Ahead of Friday’s immersion, office bearers of the mandal conducted a formal worship ceremony for the barge, marking the beginning of preparations for the unique visarjan.
While the immersion method is new, the traditional procession route will remain unchanged. The Mumbaicha Raja will travel from Lalbaug towards Girgaon Chowpatty, drawing devotees and spectators along the route before the idol is moved into the Arabian Sea.
The development comes as Mumbai prepares for the conclusion of its 11-day Ganeshotsav celebrations on Anant Chaturdashi.
Another major attraction will be the immersion procession of Lalbaugcha Raja, one of Mumbai’s most prominent Ganpati idols. The procession is scheduled to begin on Friday after the Uttar Puja and will pass through several parts of south Mumbai before reaching Girgaon Chowpatty.
The Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal has traditionally used a specially designed iron raft, known as a tarafa, to take the large idol into deeper seawater before immersion.
The raft enables the idol to be moved away from the shoreline and immersed in deeper waters. The method has been used by the mandal in previous years and is considered important because of the idol’s size and the logistical challenges associated with its immersion.
This year’s immersion arrangements also come amid a wider debate over the environmental impact of Ganeshotsav, particularly concerning Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, paints and other materials entering natural water bodies.
Civic authorities have strengthened measures for retrieving and processing PoP idols immersed in artificial ponds and other designated locations. Under a ward-level procedure, such idols are to be retrieved within 24 hours and sent for further processing.
The recovered material can potentially be reused in products such as plaster boards, ceramics and bricks. The measures are aimed at reducing the quantity of festival waste entering water bodies and improving post-immersion management.
However, deep-sea immersion in itself cannot automatically be considered an environmental solution. Its ecological impact depends on several factors, including the material used to make the idol, the paints and other decorative elements, and the manner in which the immersion is conducted.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s guidelines have sought to minimise the environmental impact of idol immersion through provisions related to idol-making materials, paints, immersion practices and waste management.
Mumbai’s civic authorities have simultaneously expanded artificial immersion ponds and arrangements for recovering idols as part of a broader effort to reduce pressure on natural water bodies during the festival.
The city has also introduced measures to manage waste generated at major Ganpati pandals. At the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal, the BMC has arranged for food and organic waste to be processed into renewable electricity.
Around 80 tonnes of food waste is expected to be converted into electricity, with the generated power intended for use at civic hospitals. The initiative forms part of the wider push to make the city’s Ganeshotsav celebrations more sustainable.
The massive immersion processions are also expected to affect Mumbai’s public transport network.
Western Railway has announced changes to local train services from Churchgate in view of the expected passenger rush on Friday. AC local trains arriving at or originating from Churchgate from 7 pm onwards will operate as non-AC services. Some services will also be cancelled or short-terminated as part of crowd-management measures.
Passengers travelling through Mumbai during the immersion festivities have been advised to take note of the revised train arrangements and plan their journeys accordingly.
As Mumbai prepares to bid farewell to its beloved Ganpati idols, the Mumbaicha Raja’s deep-sea immersion will combine a century-old cultural tradition with a new logistical approach. The event is expected to draw large crowds along the traditional Lalbaug-Girgaon Chowpatty route as the city marks the culmination of another major Ganeshotsav celebration.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
