With 66.5 kg gold and 336 kg silver, this is India's 'richest' Ganpati idol

Get ready to hear about the grandeur of Mumbai’s popular Ganesh pandal - the GSB Seva Mandal. They’ve done something really special for Ganeshotsav this year. The idol of Lord Ganesha in their pandal is not just any idol; it’s adorned with a staggering 69 kg of gold and 336 kg of silver. This year is the 69th ‘Ganpati Utsav’ for the mandal, and they’re celebrating it in a big way. Let’s take a closer look at the details of this magnificent idol and the special rituals they have planned during these celebratory days. India’s richest Ganapati The GSB Seva Mandal’s ‘Mahaganpati’, renowned as possibly India’s richest idol and always the talk of the city for the opulent way it is decorated, will this year be resplendent in 66.5 kilograms of gold ornaments, more than 295 kilograms of silver as well as other precious items. The idol installation took place on Monday. The mandal revealed that they received 36 kg of silver and a 250-gram gold pendant as donations for Ganesh Chaturthi, significantly enhancing the gold and silver embellishments on the idol. “This year, we are going to celebrate the 69th ‘Ganpati Utsav’. This year, the idol has been added with 36 kg of silver and a 250-gm gold pendant,” GSB Seva Mandal representative told ANI.

First glimpse of Mumbai's richest ganesh mandal the GSB Seva Mandal at Matunga.#GanpatiBappaMorya #GaneshChaturthi pic.twitter.com/Ez9S6TcVWS

— Akshay Redij (@Akzey) September 17, 2023

Insured for over Rs 360 crore The GSB Ganesh mandal is located in the King’s Circle area of Mumbai and is frequently visited by commoners and celebrities. The GSB Seva Mandal representative mentioned that they have obtained a total insurance coverage of Rs 360.45 crore, which includes Rs 290 crore for visitors in the pandal, Rs 39 crore for the jewellery, and Rs 20 crore for public liability. The GSB Seva Mandal took an insurance cover of a record Rs 316.40 crore last year, which has been increased by Rs 44 crore this year. This year, advanced security measures such as facial recognition and high-density cameras have been implemented for the safety of visitors, and footfall will be carefully monitored. “For devotees, the organisers have introduced QR code and digital live mechanisms,” as per a GSB Seva Mandal spokesperson as reported by ANI. [caption id=“attachment_13141322” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The GSB Ganesh mandal is located in the King’s Circle area of Mumbai and is frequently visited by commoners and celebrities. ANI[/caption] Havan for Chandrayaan-3 and Ram Temple The mandal has also planned a special ‘havan’ for 19 and 20 September. The ritual on 19 September is to express gratitude to Lord Ganesha for the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, while the ‘havan’ on the following day is to pray for the successful construction and inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking to ANI, the GSB Seva Mandal representative said, “On 20 September, we will perform a special ‘havan’ for the smooth construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. On 19 September, we will also hold a special ‘havan’ after the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. We had prayed for a successful mission.” Ganpati celebration in Mumbai Ganeshotsav has begun in Mumbai, with larger budgets, greater security, and technology in play. Shree Sarvajanik Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Sanstha, the city’s oldest Ganpati mandal, celebrates its 131st year with traditional festivities. Lalbaugcha Raja, a popular celebrity pandal, has increased security with CCTV cameras and increased personnel. Ganeshgalli’s Mumbaicha Raja is building a replica of the Raigad Fort, while Khetwadi cha Lambodara boasts one of the city’s tallest Ganpati idols, standing 45 feet tall. The festival will be held this year from 19 September to 28 September, and will conclude with Ganpati Visarjan on 28 September. With inputs from agencies