Shri Ashtavinayak Chitrashala Ganapati Murtis 2017

The images in this blog post are of Ganapati idols created this year by the artistes of Shri Ashtavinayak Chitrashala, who bring idols from Pen to sell in Mumbai prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Kishore Divekar Omkar Ganesh Pratimalay Ganapati Murtis 2017

The images in this blog post are of Ganapati idols created by Shri Kishore Govind Divekar and his team of artistes at Omkar Ganesh Pratimalay idol-making workshop. 

They specialize in providing idols from very fine grained and firm earthern clay idols from Pen and Kalyan. 

They are based in Dombivili, District Thane, Maharashtra and sell their idols at Dadar a month prior to Ganesh Chaturthi. The contact address and phone numbers are provided at the end of this blog post.

2016 Ganapati idols of Randive Ganapati Murti makers

Ranadive Ganapait murti makers create their Ganapati idols in Pen and sell them in Mumbai, including one over 5 feet. 

The photos of their artistic creations have been taken with their persmision. 

Shubham Mangalmurti Arts Ganapati idols 2015

The beautiful Ganapati idols created by the artistes of Shubham Mangalmurti Arts from Satara can be viewed at Dadar, Mumbai (see address at the end). They have idols of Lord Ganesha in different forms, including those of Bal Ganesh, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. Do go at least once and see their amazing work. 

Like last year, though, their idols are on display on the first floor of the building which is under construction so you need to take care when going upstairs. 

Shri Ashtravinayak Chitrashala Ganapati Idols 2015

It is time for Maharashtra's favourite festival - Ganesh Chaturthi! Planning to bring Ganapati Bappa home? 

Check out these idols created by the artistes of Shri Ashtravinayak Chitrashala.

2014 Dadarcha Raja Ganapati pandal photos

One of the most prominent and popular Sarvajanik Ganesh pandals in Mumbai is the one at Dadar which is home to "Dadarcha Raja", referring to Lord Ganesha as the King of Dadar area, Mumbai city. This pandal is put up annually by the Vitthalwadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.

Shubham Mangalmurti Arts Ganapati idols 2014

As I mentioned in my last year's blog post, Shubham Mangalmurti Arts create a wide variety of beautiful Ganapati idols. The idol makers are from Satara and each year they sell their idols in the Dadar area of Mumbai. 

This year they have set up their idols in a large space on the first floor of a building undergoing construction. So take care when going up there as there are heaps of rubble downstairs.

2013 Ram Maruti Road Dadar Ganapati pandal

A well-known landmark in central Mumbai is the Shiv Sena Bhavan, headquarters of the Shiv Sena political party. The organizers who have set up the Ram Maruti Road Ganapati pandal have this year re-created the Shiv Sena Bhavan. It has been done very realistically both on the exterior and in the interior. Do visit it!

2013 Dadarcha Raja Ganapati pandal

The photos in this blog post are of the Dadarcha Raja located at R.K.Vaidya Road, opp. Kotwal Udyan, Dadar (West), Mumbai.

Divekar Ganapati Murti Makers

The Ganapati idols here have been created by Divekar Ganapati murti makers.

They are based in Kalyan but you can see these idols at at Dadar, at R.K.Vaidya Road (opposite Kotwal Udyan), Dadar (West), Mumbai.

Why 21 modaks are offered to Ganapati

We well know that modaks are Ganapati’s favourite sweet food. However, few of us know how the modak came to be Lord Ganesha’s favourite food. Even fewer know why specifically 21 modaks are offered during a puja of Lord Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

There is an interesting charming story behind this...

Why Ganapati idols are shown with musical instruments

Many idols of Gods and Goddesses are depicted holding a musical instrument. Some are directly associated with a specific instrument. For example, Goddess Saraswati with the veena, Lord Krishna with the flute, etc. 

The idols of Ganapati will often be seen having a musical instrument, maybe a flute or a mridangam or tablas.

Shubham Mangalmurti Arts Ganapati Murti Makers

Want to see a stunning range of Ganapati idols? Head to Shubham Mangalmurti Arts at Dadar. They truly have the widest range of Ganapati idols from small-sized ones to those over 4 feet in height. There are idols of Bal Ganesha, Lalbaughcha Raja, Ganesha and Shirdi Sai Baba, Ganapati playing instruments, Ganesha as Krishna, Bal Ganesha with his parents Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati, etc. What's more, they are very life like, so much so that you feel as though one idol is smiling at you while another is listening attentively to what you have to say, while the mischief is evident in a Bal Ganesh murti.

The most unusual of them all is Lord Ganesha seated on Spiderman!! This idol is an indication that even superheroes are inferior to the heavenly beings. Also see their 2014 idols here.

Aarti MangalaGauri in Marathi words

The worship of Gauri is the worship of Goddess Parvati, mother of Lord Ganesha. There is a special fast known as Mangala Gauri, which is observed by married women, especially by a newly married lady. The meaning of Mangala is auspicious, so the Mangala Gauri puja means the holy or auspicious worship of Gauri. The vrat (vow & fasting) taken during Mangala Gauri is for the long & happy life of the husband & children and generally for marital happiness. The vrat is done on the four Tuesdays of the month of Shravan.

Shri Ashtavinayak Chitrashala Ganapati Murti makers

For a great variety of beautifully designed Ganapati idols, from cute Bal Ganesh idols to tall imposing ones with elaborate head gear, you should visit the stall set up by the murti makers of Shri Ashtravinayak Chitrashala. 

They sell idols for Ganesh Chaturthi sourced from the famed abode of Lord Ganesha - Pen, Maharashtra.

Randive Ganapati Murti makers

Randive Ganapatiwale are well known idol makers who create beautiful Ganapati idols. They are based in Dadar and you can check out their idols which are on display a month before Ganesh Chaturthi. The photos in this blog are the idols they have made.

Where to buy and book online eco-friendly clay Ganapati idols in Mumbai

Ganapati idols made of Plaster of Paris are extremely harmful to the environment because during immersion of the idols the material does not dissolve in water for hundreds of years. It is therefore advisable to buy eco-friendly idols made from clay (known as Shadu), which dissolve within an hour of immersion. Supporting this eco-friendly activity is the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). In collaboration with the Nirmaljyot Charitable Trust, MPCB has launched the Eco Ganesha program through which it is selling Shadu Ganesha idols at over two dozen outlets in the city of Mumbai and its suburbs.

What is the significance of a modak

A modak is basically a dumpling with a stuffing inside. It is generally steamed, though some people fry it too. The modak’s outer covering is called paari and it is made from rice flour only. The inner stuffing is called saran. 

 While traditional modaks have only a sweet filling of jaggery and coconut, over time this has evolved into a wide variety. There are modaks with raisins and dates, modaks with figs, etc. 

GSB Seva Mandal Mumbai Gold Ganesha

The Gaud Saraswat Seva Mandal (GSB) is a charitable, non-profit organisation which is well-known not just for its well organised annual Ganeshotsav celebrations but also for being selflessly involved in philanthropic activities. In addition to providing financial assistance to needy people, it provides medical assistance to the deserving & conducts funerals for those who cannot afford it. Each year the GSB mandal also arranges for outdoor visits to temples & other places for senior citizens.

Visiting Girijatmaj Vinayak Ganapati Temple at Lenyadri

After visiting the Chintamani temple, devotees who undertake the Ashtavinayaka Yatra visit the Ganapati temple at Lenyadri. This temple is known by the name of Ganapati’s mother Parvati whose other name is Girija & the word Atmaj refers to son. From the name of the area, namely Lenyadri, it is easy to understand the temple’s location – the word lena means a cave and the suffix adri is a Sanskrit word which means a mountain. So devotees must be prepared to climb up quite a bit to pay obeisance to the Ganapati idol in this temple.