Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja Sparks Debate on VIP Culture
Mumbai's Lalbaugcha raja Sparks Debate on VIP Culture
Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja, one of the most revered Ganesh idols, is showcased in a grand pandal for around 11 days each year, drawing millions of devotees and pilgrims from around the world. This year marked the 91st anniversary of the pandal, with Mukh Darshan and Navasachi commencing on september 7. As usual, social media was abuzz with videos from the pandal, but this year’s footage inadvertently highlighted the disparity in treatment between VIPs and ordinary devotees.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka shared a video from the Lalbaugcha raja pandal, highlighting the treatment of common devotees. Accompanying the video, he wrote, “Ever wondered why people opt for VIP darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja? It’s because the common devotee often data-faces long waits and crowds, highlighting the unequal treatment. Isn’t faith supposed to be equal for all?”
The video begins with a chaotic scene of devotees rushing into the pandal as the gates open. It shows security and staff forcefully closing the gates while devotees struggle to enter. Towards the end, the camera captures a woman comforting another who is overwhelmed by the stampede-like situation.
Another video from the pandal depicts staff handling devotees roughly as they are pushed aside by security without even a moment to bow before the Ganpati idol. In contrast, a VIP family is seen posing for pictures in front of the Ganesha idol.
These videos have sparked widespread outrage online, with many highlighting the stark contrast in treatment between VIPs and ordinary devotees. One person commented, “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to see Lalbaugcha Raja. It’s disheartening to see devotees being pushed aside after standing in line for hours, while VIPs who bypass the queue take selfies and enjoy better access. god definitely doesn’t favor this.”
Another individual added, “We see this VIP darshan concept at many popular places of worship. Faith, religion, law, access to education, and healthcare should be equal for everyone, but the reality is quite different. We don’t live in an equal world.”
A third person remarked, “It should be labeled as ‘VIP only.’ Common people travel long distances and struggle to get a glimpse, only to be treated poorly for just a few seconds of darshan.”
A fourth commenter expressed, “We live in a world where the privileged think even god is accessible with money! It’s ironic how those with privileged access end up taking selfies with the deity, while the common people are left trying to get a fleeting moment of blessings.”
Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja, one of the most revered Ganesh idols, is showcased in a grand pandal for around 11 days each year, drawing millions of devotees and pilgrims from around the world. This year marked the 91st anniversary of the pandal, with Mukh Darshan and Navasachi commencing on september 7. As usual, social media was abuzz with videos from the pandal, but this year’s footage inadvertently highlighted the disparity in treatment between VIPs and ordinary devotees.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka shared a video from the Lalbaugcha raja pandal, highlighting the treatment of common devotees. Accompanying the video, he wrote, “Ever wondered why people opt for VIP darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja? It’s because the common devotee often data-faces long waits and crowds, highlighting the unequal treatment. Isn’t faith supposed to be equal for all?”
The video begins with a chaotic scene of devotees rushing into the pandal as the gates open. It shows security and staff forcefully closing the gates while devotees struggle to enter. Towards the end, the camera captures a woman comforting another who is overwhelmed by the stampede-like situation.
Another video from the pandal depicts staff handling devotees roughly as they are pushed aside by security without even a moment to bow before the Ganpati idol. In contrast, a VIP family is seen posing for pictures in front of the Ganesha idol.
These videos have sparked widespread outrage online, with many highlighting the stark contrast in treatment between VIPs and ordinary devotees. One person commented, “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to see Lalbaugcha Raja. It’s disheartening to see devotees being pushed aside after standing in line for hours, while VIPs who bypass the queue take selfies and enjoy better access. god definitely doesn’t favor this.”
Another individual added, “We see this VIP darshan concept at many popular places of worship. Faith, religion, law, access to education, and healthcare should be equal for everyone, but the reality is quite different. We don’t live in an equal world.”
A third person remarked, “It should be labeled as ‘VIP only.’ Common people travel long distances and struggle to get a glimpse, only to be treated poorly for just a few seconds of darshan.”
A fourth commenter expressed, “We live in a world where the privileged think even god is accessible with money! It’s ironic how those with privileged access end up taking selfies with the deity, while the common people are left trying to get a fleeting moment of blessings.”