The iconic Mumbai Cha Raja holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. During the grand celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in the Maximum City, its name echoes above all, uniting lakhs in prayer, devotion, and the embrace of age-old traditions. 

Did you know that the iconic 22-foot idol is crafted entirely by hand—without the use of moulds—a tradition upheld for over 45 years? A defining moment came in 1977, during the mandal’s golden jubilee celebrations, when the late master artisan Dinanath Veling sculpted what was then the tallest Ganpati idol in the country: a majestic 22-foot figure seated on a lotus. This historic creation set a new benchmark, inspiring a wave of towering idols that many mandals across Mumbai continue to follow today.

Located in Ganesh Galli, Lalbaug, the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, famously known as Mumbai Cha Raja, was established in 1928, making it one of the oldest and most iconic Ganesh pandals in Mumbai. In fact, Mumbai Cha Raja is even older than the city’s most famous Lalbaug Cha Raja, which was established in 1934.