Visarjan procession of "Lalbag cha Raja"

Lalbag cha Raja

 

What a day it was, just the morning session when at about 8.30 am I got a message from my photographer friend Vinay Parelkar, that he was going to Lalbag/Parel area to witness the visarjan ceremony of the Kings of that area.

I was just in a relaxed mood and was in two minds - to go or not to go was the question - to go means i will get caught in the melee and be thrown around like a football in the massive crowds. Not to go means I miss a golden opportunity which comes just once in a year. And to add to it, I thought - since the last 62 years of my life I have never ever witnessed the pomp and the splendour of an event called "visarjan" the final journey of the Lord Ganesha - which culminates the 10 day long festival.

I was wondering how will I shoot, I had just damaged my 18-105mm zoom lens which was very ideal for this kind of a situation. I do not have any other zoom lens. I rang Vinay back and told him so.

Then it struck me that I am still in possession of my old 35-70mm short zoom manual lens of my Nikon F2. I foraged through my camera collections and managed to take it out and checked through the lens caps to see if it had accumulated fungus or not. To my relief, the lens was absolutely clean. I attached it on my D90 and shot a few trial shots at home. Yes the lens was just good enough. 

The time was ticking …. it was 9.30 already and I had to rush if I have to negotiate thru the crowds.

I called my sister who was to go to Parel at her “kaaki’s” house to see the processions pass by. She told me that the building is on the very footpath of the main road where the processions would pass and being the corner room with a balcony, they can see the deity absolutely without hindrance. I told her that I am coming to her building; got the exact location and the directions and immediately set off in a cab hoping that luck will support me atleast till Bharatmata Theatre. Luckily the Currey Road bridge was open for traffic and I reached the place in 20 minutes flat. At the junction of Bharatmata theatre, the road was open to go to left only. The right side was closed to all traffic. 

People thronged the place like ants. It was difficult even to see what was going on.  I had to cross the road to go to the opposite side so I walked through the crowds searching for an opening in the road divider which was fortunately at about 100 mts. distance.  After a few enquiries I reached their place on the first floor.  The view was terrific.  Just below was the very road where the processions would soon be going and I was standing on the balcony to witness it. 

Till 11.30 a.m. the crowds were building up and I was told one big idol had just passed by.  Soon another huge idol could be seen at a distance of about 100 mts. 

The most important fact is that each colossal Ganapati idol is made on a large trolley which is then pulled by hand by volunteers to the pandal days before the festival and today the very idol was again pulled by all the volunteers all the way till Girgaon Chowpatti for immersion.

The air was reverberating with the chants “Ganapati Bappa Moraya” and “Mangal Murti Moraya” – there were dhols pathaks (drummers) leading the processions, then there was a big box attached to a pulley and rope from one side of the road and the pulley attached to a pipe on the fly-over bridge just opposite at a height of about 50 feet.

Every time the trolley comes directly below the box filled with gulal or flower petals would be directed directly over the crown of the idol and then the gulal dropped with a pull of another rope which opened the trap-door of the box. 

Preparing for the welcome

I was struck with awe at the religious fever that permeated in that area. Each individual was just enthralled at the beauty of the idol and the words “Ganapati Bappa Moraya” and “Mangal Murti Moraya” automatically came on their lips. 

I saw the first idol pass in front of me and took some snaps. But then there were bamboo barricades on the foot-path which prevented me from getting an open view. I had to focus through the bamboos and the trees or the lamp-posts on the foot-path. So after the first idol passed by, I dared to venture out on the road with my Nikon – the entire road was full of devotees and photographers/videographers who didn’t want to miss the fun. I negotiated my way and landed right in front of the trolley which had now stopped for a while and managed to get some good snaps. 

This went on for the next 3 idols that passed by and I had no difficulty in getting the shots. In between the road was filled with small crowds waiting for the processions to arrive. Then there were the entertainers like the balloon sellers who sold the paraphernalia like the masks, soap bubble makers, and other things. There were vad-pav vendors, water bottle sellers on the foot-path. People were busy taking selfies with their mobiles enjoying every moment. 

The clock was ticking. The time was around 2.00 pm and every one was eagerly waiting for the King to arrive. 

Suddenly there was commotion and every one began to rush towards the road divider. I too saw in that direction and lo – the King himself arriving amid a multitude of devotees shouting “Ganapati Bappa Moraya” and “Mangal Murti Moraya” …… “Lalbag chya Raja cha …. vijay aso”

Lalbag is a little ahead of Parel and the procession of “Lalbag cha Raja” comes out from the mandal back towards Ganesh Galli near Bharatmata Theatre, takes a U-turn and again proceeds back towards Girgaon beach for immersion. 

The crowds swelled and I could only see the heads of people numbering to about 20,000 from a few thousands. Everyone was waiting for this moment. The procession inched slowly towards Bharatmata and the footh-path below us began to swell uncontrollably.

The vendors disappeared as if by magic. 

The procession had taken a U-turn and was approaching in our direction. 

I took my position on the middle of the road expecting to take some shots. I slowly went in the direction of the idol, positioned my camera and managed to get a few shots. I was not satisfied. But then the crowds began pushing uncontrollably and it was not possible to shoot. I retraced my steps slowly and tried to shoot from another angle. Having shot a few more frames I thought of entering back into the safety of the building. But by then the procession was right behind me and there was a stampede. People began pushing in all directions. I was stuck. One miss of my foothold can result in falling down which could result in a very unpleasant pileup of people with disastrous result.  Pushed and pulled and nearly being tossed about in all directions like a rag-doll, I finally managed to enter into the building and climb to the safety of the first floor.

I sat on a chair to catch my breath and rest my aching back and trembling feet, glad to be seated comfortably.

The time now was beyond 3.30 pm and we set out to return back home in my sister’s car.

I still wonder how people have the determination to go along with the procession to the immersion site which is well about 10-12 kilometers to Girgaon Chowpatti. 
Probably the immersion took place today in the morning. 

Ganapati Bappa Moraya

Mangal Murti Moraya

Lalbag chya Raja cha ..... vijay aso !!!