MUMBAI: The prominent Ganesh mandal of Khotachiwadi in Girgaum completes 100 years this season.
The deity has witnessed decades of transformation from the Independence struggle to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, demographic changes and now redevelopment.
A cluster of 30 odd buildings and bungalows in Khotachiwadi patronise the mandal. In its heyday Sane Guruji is said to have visited. Members still sing Vande Mataram as they mount the idol upon its trolley for visarjan.
The centenary theme is Shiv Rajyabhishek.
Santosh Mogre, mandal president since 25 years, says, "Our biggest achievement is that we are able to uphold the legacy of our forefathers who founded this mandal. They have sacrificed a lot to establish this mandal in the pre-Independence period. It was very difficult to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in those times."
"Bal Gangadhar Tilak started this festival to bring everyone together. Even before 1926-27, there used to be secret meetings in Girgaum to plan and strategise (for the freedom struggle). Brilliant minds came together and built consensus. The locality has a heritage of lofty ideals," he added.
Khotachiwadi's 10ft tall Ganesh is made from light papier mache by sculptor Avinash Patkar.
"This is our puja moorti also. We have always kept only one idol. Minister Aditi Tatkare came and stood transfixed by its beauty," Mogre said.
Khotachiwadi used shadu mati for decades before turning to PoP for a few years, then adopted paper pulp.
"Our mandal is mindful to perform proper visarjan. You will not find our idol abandoned on the sand," says the president.
Modern day Khotachiwadi is designated as a Grade 3 heritage precinct, yet redevelopment is taking place in some corners and certain old bungalows have been razed.
"Ours is a mixed locality. There are Christians, Jains, Marwadis, Gujaratis, Bengalis. In fact, Bengalis live in front of our mandal. Yet there is a keen interest in preserving our culture. People flock to Khotachiwadi and our mandal," Mogre added.
