Keeping aside the regular theme of replicating temples for the pandal, the Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbaicha Raja and Andhericha Raja mandals are coincidentally working on the same theme of making Raigad Fort a theme this year (Pic/Abhishek Satam)
The Andhericha Raja mandal stated that they decided on the theme last year and that work is currently going on as only a few weeks remain for the Ganeshotsav (Pic/Satej Shinde)
The Raigad Fort's decor at Andhericha Raja pandal will be set up in a 4,000-square-foot area (Pic/Satej Shinde)
Speaking about the theme, Uday Salian, spokesperson of Andhericha Raja mandal said, “It is a historic event. Replicating the coronation ceremony in the fort will be a learning experience for the younger generation. The school students can learn about the history of the coronation ceremony and about our Maratha ruler” (Pic/Satej Shinde)
Confirming the theme at Lalbaugcha Raja, Balasaheb Kamble, president of the Mandal, said, “This year we will be making Raigad fort to mark the 350th coronation anniversary, and it will be the last decor designed by late Nitin Desai for our pandal" (Pic/Anagha Sawant)
The Lalbaug-based Ganesh Gully’s Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal has decided to build Raigad Fort and take the devotees back to the coronation period (Pic/Abhishek Satam)
Talking about the theme, Adhwait Pedhamkar, joint secretary of the Ganesh Gully's mandal, said, “Shivaji Maharaj was crowned king of the Maratha Empire (Hindawi Swaraj) in a grand ceremony at Raigad Fort. This year, as it marks its 350th anniversary, we thought of building the Raigad Fort and trying to replicate the architect of the fort so that it could take back the devotees during the coronation period” (Pic/Abhishek Satam)
People shopping in Mumbai's Lalbaug market ahead of the Ganeshotsav festival (Pic/Anagha Sawant)
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