Ganpati Visarjan 2023: How Muslims hail Lalbaugcha Raja at Byculla and Nagpada

In the middle of communal standoffs raging in the country a distinct equation emerges in the heart of South Bombay Breaking the mould of ingrained animosity the local Hindu and Muslim brethren come together for the colossal Ganpati celebrations The ageold tradition associated with the tall fame of Lalbaugcha Raja transpires as a pioneering act of brotherhood in the face of sectarian divideLalbaugcha Raja is revered as the largest Ganesh pandal in Mumbai He boasts of Indiarsquos longest immersion procession which lasts for nearly 21 hours The procession weaves its route through key locations dominated by the Muslim populace ndash Byculla Railway Station Clare Road Nagpada Dunkan Road and Do Taki concluding at Girgaon ChowpatiGanpati welcomed with skull caps postnamazYear after year Sajid Khan a resident of Nagpada works to ensure smooth conduct during the Ganpati procession in Muslimdominant regions Charing the HinduMuslim Ekta Committee his office cubicle houses a photo album featuring Ganpati immersions captured over two decades He tells Midday ldquoWe celebrate Ganpati like its our own festival After joining hands with our Hindu neighbours ndash we have built a solidarity that fizzled out all the tensionsrdquoThree decades ago this communal amity was unthinkable With the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 riots erupted in various parts of the thenknown Bombay city leading to a deepseated communal rivalry that claimed the lives of 900 people Thirty years hence the tables are turning and the city is gradually shedding its dogmabased inhibitionsAt Do Taki Muslims wear skull caps and prepare to felicitate the Raja with pomp and might With only five days to go for Ganpati Khan is caught up with arrangements for majestic garlands flowers and delicious meals meant to be offered to the Elephantheaded deity Once the procession passes through Nagpada Hindus and Muslims ndash indiscernible from each other welcome Ganesha with garlands and shower flowers upon himQari Lukmaan the imam of Fine Touch Masjid Agripada recalls how there were more cops than people during the 1993 procession ldquoThere was a time when violent threat lurked during Ganpati procession through this area As years went by people recouped from those dreadful memories and revived lost friendships Once while waiting for Ganpati a cop told me how he finds our area to be cool as this halt is free of all lafdasrdquo Peace thrives perpetually as long as acts of generosity and love float between the communities The arms of Hindus and Muslims perform a coordinated motion to haul the chariot propelling the 15foottall idol forward The deity also briefly pauses in front of the Hindustani Masjid Byculla where those who are typically seen at dargahs eagerly await Ganpatirsquos presenceldquoIsnt it wiser to stand togetherMaulana Abdul Jabbar Mahirul Qadri Chishti the imam at the Hindustani Masjid follows a harmonious blend of traditions during Ganesh Chaturthi After concluding the evening namaz with the monotheistic worshippers of Allah he steps out to welcome Ganpati with fellow Muslims He shares that those who pray at the mosque have followed this practice since 1962ldquoDo you understand the violence it took to become this peaceful Let me explain Ive consistently guided my community just as I did in 1993 that we must not only reside here but also stay united We have faced enough bloodshed and fanatic hatred With the passage of time we have evolved to become more tolerant and partake in the happiness of our fellow brothers Isnt it wiser to stand together remarks Chisti As the Raja passes through Byculla Muslims join to perform his aarti and adorn him with marigold garlandsBonds have been forged with the help of Gods Mohammad Hamza a young commerce student from Duncan Road was invited by his friend Apurv Mitra to participate in the procession in 2012 He recalls how he mulled over the invite before finally giving in to the atmospheric cheer that parades the streets of his localityIt has been 13 years now since he donned the responsibility of serving shahi sherbet to those passing by Each year he prepares 1520 drums of the refreshing drink and partakes in the community celebration at Duncan Road His father Mohammad Salim is an active member of the local deacutecor committee who ensures that Ganpati ornamentation is no less than a grand gestureThe 70yearold unshaken immersion routeThe bold route of the Ganpati procession has remained unchanged for the past 70 years Despite the communal tensions that spring from political upheavals people from Khanrsquos mohalla have chosen to look beyond the theological divide and assist in preserving the traditional procession route The spiritual camaraderie exhibited by people in Muslimdominated zones of South Bombay serves as a symbol of unity in the face of disparityldquoThe renowned Lalbaug Ka Rajas fame endures until the idol is gently removed from the pandal for its immersion ceremony The event draws thousands of participants stretching over a 7kilometerlong procession The route traverses through some of South and Central Mumbais most congested areas including a few neighbourhoods known for communal sensitivityrdquo shares Jitendra Dixit the author of lsquoBombay after Ayodhyarsquo In this book he has chronicled the aftermath of violence that erupted in December 1992Dixit shares how despite the chaotic strife the ritualistic procession of Ganpati remained unaltered In areas like Byculla Nagpada and Do Taki which have Muslimmajority populations a significant police presence is deployed during the procession to maintain peace and security Its worth noting that in 1946 owing to prior communal tensions before the festival the Bombay Police had attempted to change the route of the processionHowever the organisers staunchly refused to comply and insisted on adhering to the traditional route Eventually the immersion procession took place ten days later along the same traditional path This route holds immense significance because it is deeply ingrained in the sentiments of the people and is considered sacrosanctWorli Muslims anticipate GanpatiBeyond the streets of Byculla and Nagpada the Worli neighbourhood is not behind with its vibrant Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and the spirit of HinduMuslim unity Local Muslims in the region actively participate in the procession helping pull the chariot carrying the Lord Ganesha idol and offering flowers as a gesture of reverenceFor a century now the Shree Ganesh Seva Mandal has helmed the installation of the Ganpati idol in Worli Arvind the president of the Mandal stated Ganesh Chaturthi has been celebrated here for the past 100 years What makes this pooja Mandal unique is that both Hindus and Muslims come together to celebrate the might of Ganpati When the idol arrives members of the Muslim community join us in pooja and dance ritualsNot only this Muslims present a specially decorated chariot to carry Bappa for his culmination in the sea Zakir Shaikh a Worli resident shares ldquoJust like they visit our homes during Eid we join our Hindu neighbours for a Ganpati pooja and immersion This has been an ongoing tradition that we look forward to each yearrdquoThe genesis of Ganesh Chaturthi in MaharashtraGanesh Utsav found its footing in Maharashtra in 1892 Back in the day Punekar Krishnajipant Khasgiwale visited Gwalior and witnessed the grand public celebration Upon his return he told his friend Bhausaheb Laxman Javale about it who went on to place a public Ganesha idol in Pune after learning about this celebrationThe extravagant festivities were transformed into private household affairs during the colonial period Freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar noticed Javalersquos efforts and praised it in his newspaper lsquoKesarirsquo in 1893 He even installed a Ganesha idol in the news publications office the next year and his efforts transformed the annual domestic festival into a large wellorganised public eventEncouraged by him Ganesh Chaturthi became a meeting ground for people from all castes and communities at a time when the British discouraged social and political gatherings to control the population The festival facilitated community participation and involvement in the forms of intellectual discourse poetry recitals plays concerts and folk dances