Mumbai’s famous Ganesha idol at Lalbaug will not be celebrated for the first time in over 85 years, as the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Sarvajanik Mandal has decided not to conduct any celebrations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mandal has decided to set up a blood and plasma donation camp throughout the 11 days of the festival to encourage people to donate blood and plasma for those who are fighting against COVID-19.
“Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Sarvajanik Mandal would not be celebrating the 2020 Ganesha festival. We would instead be celebrating it as Aarogya Utsav,” said the Mandal.
They will donate the amount from the donation camp to the Chief Minister’s Relief fund instead of grandly celebrating the festival to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They will also felicitate the families of the martyrs who lost their lives at Line Of Control (LOC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Lalbaugcha Raja (The King of Lalbaug) is the legendary idol Lord Ganesha kept for public display during the auspicious festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Over a million people visit the renowned Mandal at Lalbaug, Mumbai during the festival. The unveiling of the idol takes place magnificently as a significant number of people line up to receive blessings and catch a glimpse of this larger than life idol.
Source: ANI