Hum aa rahe hai,
Swaagat nahin karoge hamaara???
It is that time of the year again when the whole state gears up to welcome the elephant headed God, Ganesha and celebrate the grandest festival of the year,Ganeshotsav.This time I had made up my mind to pay a visit to the idol workshop at Parel so armed with my camera and photographer friend as company and guide I went there on a week day in the evening after work.A bit hectic but I did not want to miss this one.My gal-pal Sudnya had been to this workshop earlier so she led me to this huge workshop at Parel just a few metres from the ITC Grand Maratha Hotel.Thanks to her , I had a first time experience at seeing the work undertaken at a Ganpati workshop.
The workshop was huge and it looked like a huge playground.At the entrance there was a stall dealing in Ganesha idols which were smaller in size.There were also decoration materials for sale there.Once inside the workshop all we saw saw were idols of all shapes ,sizes and poses.There were people hard at work most probably to meet the fast arriving deadline for the completion of the idols.There were many iron casts and other moulds for making the idols.Many of the idols were quite huge and I never expected to see so many huge idols,guess all the local sarvajanik mandals have opted for these huge idols as a way of competing with each other on the basis of size.Many of the idols were replicas and were all lined up ready to be coloured,they looked so desolate without the bright colours of the clothes and the ornaments.There was a steady flow of visitors who had come to see how their idol was shaping up and some like us had come to see the work at the workshop.
The work was being carried on in different stages,some of the idols were just being put into their moulds?casts,some were being painted,some were being laden with the glitter of the ornaments while a few were all packed in plastic and ready to be sent to their respective abode for the five day /ten day festival.We started clicking away and observed the work in progress. Those working were really creative and skilled workers who worked adeptly and with passion.Also saw a huge machine to carry the huge and heavy idols .There was a tea-stall to serve tea to the workers and we saw many workers take a break either to talk on their cell-phones or to have a sip of hot tea.Work was also being done on the decorations for the festival.We made our way around the workshop and then made our way towards Lalbaug to see the preparations on for the much-hyped Lalbagcha Raja.
The way to the main pandal was very narrow and congested.I wondered how they managed with the huge crowds there.It was in a residential area and I am sure there must be great hardships for all those staying in the vicinity of the pandal. Surprisingly, I saw a fish market just a few metres away from the place where the idol is kept. I am sure the fish market is closed during that period for obvious reasons.Arrangements for decorations and security were in full swing.saw the lights and fans being set up along with the barricades fo the serpentine queues of devotees that would line up for a darshan of this famous Navsacha Raja.My friend related the horrendous incident a few years back while visiting the Lalbagcha Raja where she was caught up in unprecedented crowds.I .for one,have only heard about this particular idol and never been here to visit.Just listening to the tales of how people have to wait for five to six hours to get a darshan makes me vary of paying a visit here. So I am happy just to read about it and see the videos related to it while I visit the GSB Ganesha at Kingscircle on all the five days of the festival.Waiting eagerly to meet my relatives and friends this year too as this is the one occasion when we all get together.We did not catch a glimpse of the idol as it is all under wraps now and they have a special opening or darshan of the idol at the given date.So we made our way back to parel and all around we saw many colourful stalls selling garlands, decoration items, modaks, ladoos and even idols of Gauri,the mother of lord Ganesha.The Gauri idols were extremely beautiful but we did not click pictures as we assumed that the shopkeepers would object.There were huge crowds all around to buy the wares in anticipation of the grand festival. Making our way through the crowds we left from there and made our way back home.
It had been a new experience for me and it saddened me to know that there were so many huge Ganesha idols being used and these would be immersed in the waters.These idols we saw did not look like they were being made of biodegradable material,but then I cannot say for sure.I really hope there is an awareness of having an eco-friendly Ganesh festival. I wonder whether the idea of the artificial ponds and tanks idea for immersion is being accepted by the mandals, but I really don't think so as the number of idols immersed at the beaches is steadily increasing and the size of the idols is only getter bigger.But this is a sensitive issue as it is pertaining to the religious sentiments of the people.One can only hope for the best.
Swaagat nahin karoge hamaara???
It is that time of the year again when the whole state gears up to welcome the elephant headed God, Ganesha and celebrate the grandest festival of the year,Ganeshotsav.This time I had made up my mind to pay a visit to the idol workshop at Parel so armed with my camera and photographer friend as company and guide I went there on a week day in the evening after work.A bit hectic but I did not want to miss this one.My gal-pal Sudnya had been to this workshop earlier so she led me to this huge workshop at Parel just a few metres from the ITC Grand Maratha Hotel.Thanks to her , I had a first time experience at seeing the work undertaken at a Ganpati workshop.
The workshop was huge and it looked like a huge playground.At the entrance there was a stall dealing in Ganesha idols which were smaller in size.There were also decoration materials for sale there.Once inside the workshop all we saw saw were idols of all shapes ,sizes and poses.There were people hard at work most probably to meet the fast arriving deadline for the completion of the idols.There were many iron casts and other moulds for making the idols.Many of the idols were quite huge and I never expected to see so many huge idols,guess all the local sarvajanik mandals have opted for these huge idols as a way of competing with each other on the basis of size.Many of the idols were replicas and were all lined up ready to be coloured,they looked so desolate without the bright colours of the clothes and the ornaments.There was a steady flow of visitors who had come to see how their idol was shaping up and some like us had come to see the work at the workshop.
The work was being carried on in different stages,some of the idols were just being put into their moulds?casts,some were being painted,some were being laden with the glitter of the ornaments while a few were all packed in plastic and ready to be sent to their respective abode for the five day /ten day festival.We started clicking away and observed the work in progress. Those working were really creative and skilled workers who worked adeptly and with passion.Also saw a huge machine to carry the huge and heavy idols .There was a tea-stall to serve tea to the workers and we saw many workers take a break either to talk on their cell-phones or to have a sip of hot tea.Work was also being done on the decorations for the festival.We made our way around the workshop and then made our way towards Lalbaug to see the preparations on for the much-hyped Lalbagcha Raja.
The way to the main pandal was very narrow and congested.I wondered how they managed with the huge crowds there.It was in a residential area and I am sure there must be great hardships for all those staying in the vicinity of the pandal. Surprisingly, I saw a fish market just a few metres away from the place where the idol is kept. I am sure the fish market is closed during that period for obvious reasons.Arrangements for decorations and security were in full swing.saw the lights and fans being set up along with the barricades fo the serpentine queues of devotees that would line up for a darshan of this famous Navsacha Raja.My friend related the horrendous incident a few years back while visiting the Lalbagcha Raja where she was caught up in unprecedented crowds.I .for one,have only heard about this particular idol and never been here to visit.Just listening to the tales of how people have to wait for five to six hours to get a darshan makes me vary of paying a visit here. So I am happy just to read about it and see the videos related to it while I visit the GSB Ganesha at Kingscircle on all the five days of the festival.Waiting eagerly to meet my relatives and friends this year too as this is the one occasion when we all get together.We did not catch a glimpse of the idol as it is all under wraps now and they have a special opening or darshan of the idol at the given date.So we made our way back to parel and all around we saw many colourful stalls selling garlands, decoration items, modaks, ladoos and even idols of Gauri,the mother of lord Ganesha.The Gauri idols were extremely beautiful but we did not click pictures as we assumed that the shopkeepers would object.There were huge crowds all around to buy the wares in anticipation of the grand festival. Making our way through the crowds we left from there and made our way back home.
It had been a new experience for me and it saddened me to know that there were so many huge Ganesha idols being used and these would be immersed in the waters.These idols we saw did not look like they were being made of biodegradable material,but then I cannot say for sure.I really hope there is an awareness of having an eco-friendly Ganesh festival. I wonder whether the idea of the artificial ponds and tanks idea for immersion is being accepted by the mandals, but I really don't think so as the number of idols immersed at the beaches is steadily increasing and the size of the idols is only getter bigger.But this is a sensitive issue as it is pertaining to the religious sentiments of the people.One can only hope for the best.
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| Super busy all day,maybe night too! |
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| All lined up...waiting for the coat of paint. |
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| Hamaari pahunch oopar tak hai!!!!! |
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| Saathi haath badhanaa....... |
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| So much to do,so little time!!! |
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| Hum aa rahe hain!!! Swaagat nahin karoge hamaara??? |
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| Let peace prevail all around the world.... |
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| Ganesha and his mooshak........both will come-a-visiting! |
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| The hand that holds the brush....can you see it? |
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| Painting the throne of the lord..... |
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| This one rally looks cute! |
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| Different poses and designs for the lord...which is your pick? |
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| Giving the final touches to the Lord..... |
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| beautiful colours and alluring idol |
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| Sitting pretty has a new meaning when we see the idols all lined up |
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| All set for the big festival......count down begins! |
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| Nimble hands for all the intricate work..... |
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| Artist at work..... |
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| All ready to be taken away by their respective mandals. |
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| Adding glitter with the ornaments. |
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| The machine used for loading the huge idols and shifting them.... |
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| Mumbaicha Raja ekach!!!! |
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| All covered up before being painted and taken to their abodes. |
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| Decorating the crowning glory with dazzling beads and diamonds. |
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| The artist at work.... |
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| Concentration while painting....... |
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| A huge idol all ready to be painted..... |
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| Kalasagar Arts where people came to buy their idols |
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| Colourful garlands all in a row enticing the devotees. |
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| Decorative garlands and ornaments for Bappa. |
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