Mumbai: Several notable pandals in Mumbai have welcomed Ganpati Bappa to the city to celebrate Ganesh Utsav 2024, boosting the festival spirit. One of the most prominent is the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Ganpati, which has gained attention not only for its grandeur but also for its eco-friendly approach. Swarna Srikanth recently visited this iconic pandal and spoke with the seva mandal’s treasurer and former chairman, Vijay Kamath, about their enchanting Ganesh idol, darshan timings, and more.

"Our Ganpati Bappa, sculpted by murtikar Avinash Patkar and his daughter Gautami, is made from pure clay and grass. The idol was completed in just a month," Kamath said. Before the creation process begins, prayers are offered at the Walkeshwar temple, where the jeeva samadhi of their Swamiji is located, as part of a time-honoured tradition.

Bappa's jewellery is another major attraction. "He wears 66 kilograms of gold and around 330 kilograms of silver. The crown is the most expensive, made from diamonds and other precious stones. Many of the ornaments are crafted by a South Indian jeweler from Mangalore, Karnataka. Each year, devotees donate jewellery as a gesture of gratitude after their 'mannat' (vows) are fulfilled," Kamath added.

The GSB mandal expects a large influx of devotees during the five-day festival, with an estimated one lakh people visiting the pandal every day. The darshan is open 24x7, ensuring everyone gets a chance to seek blessings.

On crowd management, Kamath proudly shared that the mandal has the support of Mumbai Police and 3,000 volunteers, along with private security services. "We’ve never encountered any issues, thanks to the efficient management of the police and our volunteers. The police commissioner often praises our setup and suggests other mandals take inspiration from GSB, which is a proud moment for us," he said.