The festival brings together the community in not just celebrating the festival and participating in aartis, but also in preparations on mandaps and pandals, with people queuing up for hours to catch a glimpse of Ganpati idols throughout the city.

rediff.com gives you a glimpse of an aarti in one of the most famous mandaps of Bombay, Lalbaug ka Raja, termed because residents of Lalbaug present the biggest Ganpatis and erect mandaps that simply stun you.

This idol is particularly revered because it is worshipped by itself. This qualification needs explanation. In most other big mandals two Ganpati murtis are present -- a larger one on display and a smaller one, which is the focus of puja. Lalbaug ka Raja is probably the largest murti in the country for whom puja is conducted and he has no miniature alter ego.

Ganpati Bappa Morrya

Produced by SoundPicture Communications

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