COVID-19: No Lalbaughcha Raja in Mumbai for the first time in 87 years amid coronavirus pandemic

Mumbai : Ganesh Chaturthi is falling on the 22nd of August this year. But in the current scenario, everything seems very risky. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we're all struggling to keep up. While the government has only allowed a maximum of 50 people for weddings and funerals and the Ganesh festival is the one festival that leads to a large gathering of people especially in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated with a lot of pomp and splendour across Maharashtra. Mumbai too celebrated this festival with loads of fun but this year things don't seem to be going in the right direction. 

Mumbai is home to a number of major Ganeshotsav pandals and Mandals. The biggest Ganeshotsav pandal is the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. But this year for the first time in 87 years, this Mandal will not be put up. Considering the current coronavirus situation, the Mandal has decided to cancel the Ganeshotsav. Many Ganeshotsav pandals have decided to cancel the event and many have decided to keep it low profile. 

Lalbaugcha Raja is the biggest Ganeshotsav pandal. The biggest celebrities come to visit this Mandal and a large number of people stand in queues for hours at ends just to catch a glimpse of the Ganesha idol. This year the Mandal is planning to host an "Aarogya Utsav" instead, where they will hold blood and plasma donation camp. They also plan to contribute Rs 25 lakhs to the Chief Minister's Fund. They're also making the move to felicitate the families of the Police personnel who lost their lives during this war against COVID-19. 

Many Mandals have chosen to organize an online darshan while numerous others have postponed the festival and plan to celebrate it in February 2021 during the Magh Chaturthi but the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal will not be holding their 11-day Ganeshotsav until next year Ganesh Chaturthi in September 2021.