Mumbai | September 10, 2026
Mumbai’s Girgaon Cha Raja mandal will unveil the first look of its 2026 Ganesh idol at 7 pm on Thursday as the Nikadwari Lane Sarvajanik Shree Ganeshotsav Mandal enters its 99th year.
The approximately 24-foot-tall idol weighs about 3.5 tonnes and has been described by the organisers as Mumbai’s tallest eco-friendly Ganesh idol for this year’s celebrations. The mandal said the 2026 festival will also mark its formal journey towards its centenary year in 2027.
Girgaon Cha Raja, one of Mumbai’s longstanding Ganesh mandals, dates back to 1928. The organisers have continued the tradition of using Shadu Mati, or natural clay, for the idol, making environmentally conscious celebrations a central part of the mandal’s identity. The practice has also been recognised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat, according to the mandal.
The idol has been created through the four-generation artistic legacy of the Patkar family of murtikars. Sculptor Rajan Vishnupant Patkar is currently carrying forward the tradition, combining traditional craftsmanship with the mandal’s annual festival preparations.
The mandal has previously been associated with records including a large Shadu Mati Ganpati idol, a traditional Maharashtrian pheta claimed to be the largest and heaviest, and a large modak made with traditional ingredients such as besan. Organisers are also planning to release the third official song of Girgaon Cha Raja during this year’s celebrations.
The mandal said devotees who cannot visit the pandal, including those living outside Mumbai, will be able to participate in puja, chadhava, name sankalp and seva through its association with the Sri Mandir app. The organisers said this digital access would extend participation while retaining the traditions followed at the pandal.
Girgaon and neighbouring areas in South Mumbai host several prominent Ganesh mandals during Ganeshotsav, including Keshavji Naik Chawl Ganpati, Khetwadi Cha Ganraj, Mumbaicha Raja, Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli Cha Raja and Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani. The 2026 Girgaon Cha Raja celebrations will proceed over 12 days.
