Every year during Ganesh Chaturthi, thousands of Mumbaikars gather at Kings Circle, Wadala, to see the famous “Mumbai’s Golden Ganpati.” This 14-foot tall idol of Lord Ganesh is decorated with over 60 kilograms of pure gold and more than 100 kilograms of silver jewelry, including a golden mouse, his vehicle. The idol is installed at the GSB Seva Ganesh Pandal, which has been celebrating this grand festival for the past 70 years. What started 71 years ago with a small 14-inch idol and a handful of devotees has now grown into one of the city’s richest and most celebrated Ganpati festivals, combining devotion with elaborate decorations and a long tradition of social service.
Who Creates This Idol?
While many Ganesh mandals change their sculptors regularly, creating the idol in the GSB Ganesh Mandal has become a tradition. Sculptor Avinash Patkar inherited the art of making GSB Ganesh idols from previous generations. His family has been making clay idols for over 100 years. Though Avinash studied at prestigious institutions like JJ School of Art and works as a designer in a government office, his true identity lies in his craftsmanship of Ganesh idols. Every year, Avinash, along with his daughter Gautami, prepares the idol using pure clay and grass. For them, it is not just work but a spiritual practice, a part of their family heritage.
Unique Traditions of GSB
The GSB Ganesh festival is also known for its unique traditions and rituals. One such ancient Hindu ritual is ‘Tulabhar’, where a person is weighed against food items of their choice, which are then donated. These items are later used to prepare Mahaprasad. Another unique ritual is ‘Madhasthan’, where leftover food on banana leaves is collected and considered a blessing. A devotee claims this practice helped cure their chronic back pain. After the morning prayers of Lord Ganesh, breaking coconuts in the pandal is another tradition, and the broken coconuts are distributed to devotees as prasad.
Mahaprasad Served to Over 18,000 People
If you think the GSB Ganesh Mandal organizes just a five-day festival, you are mistaken. It is a social organization that works for community service throughout the year. During Ganesh Chaturthi, around 3,500 to 3,800 registered volunteers work day and night to make the festival a success. The distribution of ‘Mahaprasad’ is another highlight. Free meals are prepared daily for thousands of devotees. According to a devotee visiting the pandal, over 18,000-20,000 people are served lunch, and over 5,000 receive breakfast every year. To ensure everyone gets prasad, large quantities of food are prepared. About 100 people work in the kitchen, cooking 1,000-1,500 kg of rice and 1,000-1,300 liters of rasam daily to feed everyone.
Medical Camp Organized by Mandal
The mandal also pays attention to health. During the festival, medical camps are set up where devotees can access free medical services if needed.
Records Set Last Year
The previous year, 2024, was very special for the GSB Mandal as it celebrated its 70th Ganesh festival in a grand and impressive manner. Over 81,000 poojas and services were performed in the pandal. Devotees offered more than 80 kilograms of silver to Lord Mahaganpati, enhancing the festival’s grandeur. The five-day festival witnessed such a massive crowd that it left everyone amazed. Famous for its opulence, the GSB Seva Mandal at Kings Circle took an insurance cover of Rs 474.46 crore for this festival, much higher than the Rs 400 crore policy of the previous year. The increase was mainly due to the rising value of gold and silver items, along with including the mandal’s priests and volunteers in the insurance coverage.
