Devotees all set to welcome their favourite god on Chaturthi today

MUMBAI: Friday’s festival of Ganesh Chaturthi brings an opportunity that lakhs of devotees await all year. They get the chance to host Lord Ganesh for up to ten days, appeasing the royal guest so he showers blessings upon them all.
Girgaum resident Shridhar Phanse says, “I see Ganpati as the endearing child who was embarrassed after the moon laughed at his pot belly.He quickly picked up what he believed was a rope to fasten around his waist but it turned out to be a snake instead.” His wife Shraddha worships Gajanan as the god of wisdom while their daughter, a performing artiste, cherishes a series of dancing Ganesh idols.
Around 2 lakh households keenly await the arrival of the busy priest who typically shuttles between various pandals this day. Thane priest Prakash Pendse and his team of eight pandits have no less than 58 ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremonies lined up on Friday. “We will each travel across Thane, Badlapur and Titwala and hope to complete by 4pm. I instal an idol of Lord Ganesh in my own house, so I need to set time aside for that,” laughs Pendse.
Siddhivinayak temple will instal the idol of the Parthiv Ganesh. “We have a special aarti at 5am followed by a mahapuja from 8 to 11am. The afternoon aarti takes place at 12.30pm,” says executive officer Mangesh Shinde. Musicians and singers perform before the lord each day of the week. The Parthiv Ganesh will be immersed on September 4.
Until Thursday, Ganpati pandals were facing the challenge of keeping curious visitors away as they put the final touches to their celebration. “We will unveil our moorti on Friday morning. Our idol is 16 ft tall and this year its replica has been despatched to a buyer in the West Indies,” said Dattaram Dalvi who heads the Grant Road Cha Raja.
On Wednesday, a Grant Road mandal reportedly suffered damage to its 22-ft tall idol. The idol was immersed and a replacement sought from its sculptor who operates from the Central Railway workshop in Parel. As a result, a few deliveries were delayed, including that of Borivli resident Jayant Pradhan, who is celebrating his 50th Ganeshotsav. In Kastur Park, Shimpoli, differences with local authorities had to be ironed out before festivities could begin.