As Ganeshotsav approaches, Mumbai’s second-oldest public Ganpati mandal, the historic Chinchpokli Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, celebrated the grand Aagman Sohla (arrival ceremony) of “Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani” on Saturday, kicking off festivities across the Lalbaug-Parel-Girangaon belt.
Thousands of devotees turned out for the occasion, with the streets of the city’s former textile heartland reverberating to dhol-tasha beats and chants of “Chinchpokli Chintamani Cha Vijay Aso” as Bappa was welcomed into his 107th year.
Known for its distinctive annual themes, the Mandal has this time drawn inspiration from South Indian temple architecture. The Chintamani idol has been styled after Lord Venkateshwara Balaji of Tirumala Tirupati, incorporating traditional sacred motifs including the Garuda, Keertimukh, Shankha, Chakra, and a camphor Tilak.
The accompanying pandal recreates the architectural splendour of the Sri Venkateswara Temple (Swarnagiri) in Hyderabad and Bhuvanagiri, featuring soaring gopurams, sacred deepastambhas, and sculpted yali/vyala guardian figures.
Rajendra Dicholkar, President of the Chinchpokli Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, said the year’s artistic creations had been conceptualised with great creativity and brought to life with the help of talented artists, skilled craftsmen, and modern technology. He added that the Mandal was confident the theme would be a special attraction and a source of joy for devotees coming to seek Chintamani’s blessings.
*A legacy dating back to 1920*
Founded in 1920 in Mumbai’s historic textile hub, the Chinchpokli Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal has long been a pillar of the city’s cultural heritage. Rooted in Girangaon’s working-class ethos, the Chintamani Ganpati continues to symbolise community unity and devotion, with its annual Aagman Sohla drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country every year.
This year, the Mandal has partnered with the Adani Group for the celebrations. With the festival set to begin in around two weeks, preparations at the venue are in full swing, with hundreds of volunteers working around the clock to bring the theme to life.