Actress Juhi Chawla praised the atmosphere and safety arrangements during Mumbai’s Ganpati celebrations, saying thousands of devotees were able to participate in the festivities peacefully and safely.
Speaking about the celebrations, Juhi said she was impressed by the respectful and joyful atmosphere as devotees gathered to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
“As you can see, what can I say, there is a very happy and respectful atmosphere here. So many people are going to worship Baba, with so much respect. I am surprised that, and a very good thing, there are women here, men too, and everyone is going safely,” she told IANS.
She added that despite the huge crowds, devotees were able to move around comfortably.
“Everyone is going safely, and you can see, there are so many people, thousands, lakhs of people, but everyone is safe. And everyone is going with ease, with their happiness, to worship Baba. It is a very beautiful atmosphere,” Juhi said.
Calling the celebrations a source of pride for Mumbai, she thanked Shaina for inviting her and said witnessing the festivities in person was a different experience from watching them on television.
“I think this is the pride of Mumbai, and thank you, Shaina, for inviting me here. Watching this on TV is one thing, but actually watching it in real life, fills the heart,” she said.
Juhi also spoke about the cultural significance of Ganpati celebrations in Maharashtra and Gujarat, describing the festival as a particularly special part of the region’s traditions.
She further used the occasion to call for greater environmental awareness, urging organisers of large Ganpati pandals to adopt eco-friendly practices.
“And I say to the big pandals, the big Ganpatis, I say to them, please, when will you make an eco-friendly Ganpati? When will you? When you do, all the pandals will follow you. So please, first try to become eco-friendly,” she said.
Known for her work across Hindi cinema, Juhi has also been associated with various social and environmental causes and has been part of the entertainment industry for more than four decades.