A prominent fishermen`s organisation has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding criminal proceedings against the office-bearers of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal for alleged mismanagement during the Ganesh idol immersion and mistreatment of devotees.
In a letter emailed to the Chief Minister and police authorities, Devendra Tandel, president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, alleged that the immersion of Mumbai`s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja idol occurred during a lunar eclipse, which he claimed was a violation of religious sentiment caused by a severely delayed procession.
According to Tandel, the idol, which left Lalbaug at 12:30 pm on Saturday, remained stuck at Chowpatty for over 12 hours and was finally immersed at 9:15 pm on Sunday, nearly 32 hours after it began its journey. Traditionally, the idol is immersed in the Arabian Sea before 9 am.
Tandel also criticised the use of a raft constructed in Gujarat for the immersion, alleging that the local Koli fishermen community, traditionally involved in the ritual, was excluded. This decision, he said, has caused resentment among community members and deviated from long-standing cultural practices.
He accused the mandal of “commercialising the festival” and subjecting ordinary devotees to “physical and mental harassment” during darshan. The letter referenced viral videos allegedly showing Mandal volunteers and private security personnel misbehaving with devotees, including an incident involving a young girl.
“The patience of the devotees has run out after witnessing such treatment,” Tandel stated in the letter.
The demands put forth by the organisation include:
Criminal action against those responsible for harassment and mismanagement
An inquiry into the delayed immersion and procedural lapses
Reforms in darshan arrangements to reduce VIP interference and overcrowding
Restoration of the traditional right of immersion to the Koli community, said to be the original installers of the idol decades ago
An urgent meeting chaired by the Chief Minister with police, mandal officials, and community representatives to prevent the recurrence of such issues
Despite attempts to reach the mandal leadership, a message sent to Balasaheb Kamble, president of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, on WhatsApp did not receive a response at the time of publishing.
(With PTI inputs)
