At Bandra West, 52-foot replica of Kashi Vishwanath Temple to pay tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar this Ganesh festival

The mandal will also host a series of activities to make the celebrations of Ganeshotsav, which has been declared as ‘Rajya Mahotsav’ by the Maharashtra government.

The Bandra West Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, where Maharashtra minister and Bandra West MLA Ashish Shelar is the chief adviser, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Every year, the mandal recreates a famous temple through its decorations.

In recent years, replicas of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari, Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Pandharpur’s Vitthal Temple and the Sai Samadhi Temple in Shirdi have been showcased. On its silver jubilee year, the mandal had created a replica of the ancestral house of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Ratnagiri, as a tribute to the freedom movement.

“A magnificent replica of the Kashi temple has been created in Bandra, complete with its iconic ‘shikhara’, intricate pillars and the Shivling of Vishweshwar, crafted to mirror the original. Adding to its grandeur, the entire premises have been illuminated with a spectacular display of lamps, a visual delight for the youth. Every year, thousands throng to witness temple replicas and their enchanting lighting and this year’s ‘aaras’ is sure to captivate the hearts of Ganesh devotees,” said mandal president Jitendra Raut.

The mandal will also take initiatives to create awareness about the 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that have been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status, as well as about Operation Sindoor and the spirit of the Swadeshi movement.

The festival is celebrated at Bandra Reclamation, a locality of diverse communities, a true reflection of Mumbai’s diversity where people of all religions celebrate with unmatched enthusiasm. Every year, this mandal draws prominent personalities from the film, sports, politics and social sectors, making it one of the most prominent and admired attractions of Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav.

Why Kashi Vishawanath Temple is special

Shri Kashi Vishweshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is located in the Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on the western banks of the Ganga river. The jyothirlinga is crafted from black stone and embellished with gold and silver. Built in the Nagara style of North India, the ‘garbagruha’ of the temple houses the sacred Shivling of Kashi Vishweshwar, adorned with offerings of Ganga water and bilva leaves.

In Hindu belief, a pilgrimage to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and a dip in the Ganga are considered essential steps towards moksha (liberation). Varanasi, often called the ‘City of Temples’, is home to around 1,654 temples. Many smaller shrines surround the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.