MiD DAY takes you on a round of the Ganapatis in the lanes and by-lanes of the city as it celebrates its favourite festival

The city is in the midst of Ganeshotsav, the biggest festival of the year. The city is known for the decorations its Ganesh mandals come up with around the idol of the deity.

All 10 days of the festival, it is a feast for the eyes, with the grandest show of all being the immersion procession to bid Ganapati adieu.

The festival brings together communities; many non-Hindus also enjoy the festivities. It is a great event not only because of the scale of the celebrations but also because it breaks down religious barriers.

Yesterday we took you to the Shrimant Dagdushet Halwai Ganapati, the Bajirao Road Natubag Mandal and the Sainath mandal Trust. Today we bring you three more Ganesh mandals.

Babu Genu Mandal

Ask, and you will get: The Babu Genu Ganapati is famous for fulfilling the wishes of devotees.

"Each and every wish of devotees is fulfilled here. Over the years people have started calling the mandal a place where wishes comes true," said Balasaheb Marne, president of the Babu Genu Mandal.

Marne has been a member of the mandal since he was a 10-year-old. The mandal is located in the heart of the city, in Shukrawar Peth. More than 500 members, who either live or run a business in the area, take care of its activities.

It was started by Nana Patil in 1970 as a mark of respect for Babu Ghenu, the freedom fighter who sacrificed his life under a truck carrying British goods. For four years, the Ganapati festival was celebrated in a small temple, but in 1974 the pandal was shifted to the main road.

The mandal is open for devotees 24 hours and members work in shifts to ensure everything is smooth.

"Members work in shifts, round-the-clock. Each shift has 30 to 40 people, who are here for 10 days," said Marne. "Kids from the age of eight years actively take part in the celebrations and work is divided among them equally."

Around seven lakh devotees from across the state visit the mandal during Ganeshotsav every year and the trustees keep a track through coins that are provided to each person. As its popularity has grown in past years, more and more devotees come here with a wish, tie a thread and once their wish is fulfilled, they come back to open the thread, a tradition that has been followed for decades.
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The mandal is also famous for its decorations and themes. For the past two years, Bollywood set designer Nitin Desai has been designing the pandal. If one walks through it, one gets the feel of a palace. Even the designs during visarjan is done by Desai.

"This year we have gone for the replica of the Lord Maruti's mandir which was there in Bajirao-Mastani's palace," said Marne. "You will get a historical feeling." At the front, there is the face of Shiva with water flowing out of his head. A pot or kalash is kept in the middle of the pool and those who want to make a wish throw a rupee coin in it.

Marne says once devotees' wishes are fulfilled, they offer various items to Ganapati, from gold and silver to coconuts and sweets.

As the rush grows, so do the security concerns. Apart from mandal members and the police, private security personnel have also been posted throughout the day and night.

The mandal members are as much into social work as prayers and worship. This year they have donated swine flu vaccine doses to 500 students from various government schools.

Blood donation camps are held several times a year, and members also donate blood whenever somebody is in need of it.

I love visiting this place because of love for the Ganesh idol, resting on the beautifully decorated swing. It's a peaceful and amazing experience to visit the mandal during Ganesh festival
-- Mona Pandit, a devoteeu00a0

I love visiting all the mandals around this area. But this one has magnificent and beautiful decorations
-- Archit Khandelwal, a devotee