Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival celebrated throughout India, with Maharashtra being one of its major centres. The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of prosperity and wisdom. During this time, people visit pandals, which are grandly decorated temporary structures displaying idols of Lord Ganesha. Pandal-hopping is a popular activity during the festival, allowing people to enjoy the maximalist decorations and ornamentation.
The pandals this year have a unique touch. In many states of India, Ganesha pandals have been set up with the theme of Chandrayaan-3, the third mission in the Chandrayaan program. Chandrayaan program is a series of lunar exploration missions developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. These pandals are going viral on the internet and receiving loads of appreciation from netizens.
Explore the list of some of these creative Ganesha pandals across the country.
A Ganesha pandal has been set up in Pune near Tulsi Baug. The pandal is adorned with the Chandrayaan and a cutout of Vikram Sarabhai, an Indian physicist and astronomer who played a key role in India's space research and nuclear power development. In the foreground, there is a Ganesha idol.
Another Chandrayaan-3 themed pandal is found in Kolkata paying its tributes to the successful landing of Chandrayaan and ISRO. It is a simple affair with Chandrayaan models on the top and a Ganesha idol sitting inside the frame.
A structurally unique pandal is found in Hyderabad where the Lord Ganesha idol is placed within the body of the Chandrayaan on the top. The idol of Lord Ganesha is seen in his "abhanga" posture which symbolises rigidity and the correct attitude, or "not bent."
Lalbaugcha Raja is a renowned pandal located in the heart of South Mumbai's Laulbag locality. It was founded by the Kambli family in 1934 and has since become a popular destination for people seeking blessings from Bappa. With over 1.5 million visitors every day, the pandal has an illustrious history, and people often wait in long queues to get a glimpse of the deity.
Located on the 12th lane of Khetwadi in Grant Road, Khetwadi Cha Ganraj is known for its tallest Ganesh idol and unique themes. In addition to grand celebrations, the stall conducts various social programs.
The SB Seva Mandal Ganpati, located in King's Circle, is known as the wealthiest pandal in Mumbai. It was established in 1954 by the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community of Karnataka. The pandal's centrepiece is a "gold Ganesh" statue, which is decorated with over 60 kilograms of pure gold, making it a stunning sight to see.