Overview

• Devotees thronged Mumbai’s Shree Siddhivinayak Temple and Lalbaugcha Raja as the ten‑day festival opened on August 27, concluding on September 6.
• Mumbai Police said 14 Additional DCPs and about 800 personnel are on rotating duty with CCTV monitoring to manage large crowds and ensure safety.
• The Bombay High Court’s order in force until at least March 2026 requires idols up to 6 feet to be immersed only in artificial tanks, with larger idols allowed in natural waters under strict safeguards.
• The state clarified that making, selling, displaying and immersing Plaster of Paris idols is permitted under environmental protocols, with local bodies responsible for artificial ponds, identification marks, sale registers and post‑visarjan cleanup and recycling.
• GSB Seva Mandal reported its idol is adorned with 69 kg of gold and 336 kg of silver and has a Rs 474.5‑crore insurance cover, one of the highest for a religious event.