The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. During this time, Ganesha idols are brought into homes and public pandals. People offer prayers, prepare festive food and take part in cultural programmes.
Mumbai’s streets are decorated with lights, music and flowers. The sound of dhols and chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” can be heard across the city.
If you are planning to visit Maharashtra during Ganesh Chaturthi, Mumbai is one of the best places to experience the festival. But you need to plan everything as hotels can fill up quickly and roads can be crowded.
Here’s what you need to know before planning your trip.
1. Pick the right days
Ganesh Chaturthi lasts 10 days. The first day is when Ganesha idols are brought home or installed in pandals. Prayers and other celebrations continue for the next few days. The final day, Anant Chaturdashi, is when many large idols are taken out for visarjan.
If you want to see the big immersion processions, plan your trip around the last few days. But these days are also the most crowded.
2. Visit famous Ganesh pandals in Mumbai
Mumbai has many famous Ganesh pandals such as Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli, Andheri Cha Raja, Parel and Lalbaug. These pandals are huge and attract a massive crowd. But if you want to experience the whole vibe of the festival with a closer look, then you can also visit smaller neighbourhood pandals. They are usually less crowded.
3. Keep Pune in your itinerary
Pune is another major place to experience Ganesh Chaturthi. The city has several famous Ganpati pandals and traditional celebrations. You can spend a day exploring the pandals and also visit some of Pune’s well-known attractions. If you have extra days, you can also go for a short trip to Lonavala or Khandala.
How to travel around Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi
Getting around Mumbai can become difficult during the festival because at that time traffic is usually heavier and several roads may be closed or diverted during large processions. Local trains and buses can help visitors travel between different parts of the city, but they can also be very crowded.
It is also a good idea to plan the pandals you want to visit and group nearby locations together.
What to eat during the festival
Ganesh Chaturthi is also a good time to try some popular Maharashtrian food. Modak is one of the most popular foods associated with the festival. Ukadiche modak, the steamed version, is especially popular in Maharashtrian homes.
Travellers can also try puran poli, a sweet flatbread filled with lentils and jaggery.
