Adorned With 66kg Gold Ornaments, Mumbai's GSB Seva Mandal Hosts India's Richest Ganpati

As the Ganapati Chaturthi celebrations commenced on Saturday, the GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati, also known as the ‘richest Ganpati’ gets adorned with 66 kg of gold ornaments and 325 kg silver and other precious items.

The organisers have procured record-breaking insurance of Rs 400.58 crore for its five-day festival spanning September 7-11. The Matunga-based GSB Seva Mandal, known for its Lord Ganesha adorned with gold jewellery, is considered one of the wealthiest mandals.

The GSB Seva Mandal in Mumbai’s King’s Circle unveiled the first look of its Ganesh idol amid chants, music, and dhol beats on Thursday evening. Scores of devotees thronged the pandal to witness the pious moment.

With this, the GSB Seva Mandal kicked off its 70th Ganeshotsav celebrations.

The Ganapati festival, beginning September 7, is a major celebration in Maharashtra. Ganeshotsav spans ten days of joyous celebrations, elaborate rituals, and other festivities and concludes with the grand visarjan, where Ganesha idols are immersed in water bodies amidst chants and music.

Some 15,000 police personnel will be on the streets for the next ten days to provide security, officials said.

The 10-day Ganesh festival began in Maharashtra on Saturday, with idols of the deity being installed in homes and at public pandals across the state amid fanfare and gaiety.

Families, including children and elderly members, stepped out of their homes early morning to bring their beloved god home amid chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and the beating of drums.

As many as 32 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 45 Assistant Commissioners, 2,435 officials, 12,420 constables, home guards and personnel of the State Reserve Police Force, Rapid Action Force and Riot Control Unit will be on the streets, an official said.

(with PTI inputs)