Shivdi Cha Raja marks 75th year with underwater Dwarka display in Mumbai

With Ganeshotsav two days away, Ganesh mandals across Mumbai are giving final touches to their pandals. Shivdi Cha Raja has set a new benchmark this year, recreating the mythical "underwater Dwarka" as its theme.

This is the 75th, or amrut mahotsavi, year of Shivdi Cha Raja. The elaborate pandal and the idol of Lord Ganesh were unveiled on Friday to the traditional sounds of the tutari, dhol, conch shell and bell.

The pandal is about 130 feet long, 65 feet wide and 45 feet high. It features nearly 1,000 square feet of LED screens, advanced hologram technology, laser light effects and an air-conditioned set. Around 70 to 80 artisans worked on it day and night for the past one and a half months.

The pandal has been set up at Prabodhankar Thackeray Udyan, opposite the Shivdi bus depot, in Shivdi. The mythological city of Dwarka, said to be located where the Gomti river meets the Arabian Sea in Gujarat, will now be visible to Mumbaikars in Shivdi itself. The theme was conceived by art director Aman Vidhate. Since it is not easy for ordinary people to travel to Gujarat to see the submerged Dwarka, Shivdi Cha Raja has sought to bring this sunken city closer to Mumbaikars.

Mandal president Shrikant Jadhav said the 75-year journey of Shivdi Cha Raja stands testimony to a rich tradition of faith, culture, social responsibility and unity. He said that in this amrut mahotsavi year, the mandal is giving special emphasis to social and cultural work as part of carrying this tradition forward. Jadhav appealed to devotees to come and witness this year's unique celebration, see the underwater Dwarka, and be part of this historic moment.

Vijay Indulkar, the mandal's chief guide, said the idea of an "underwater Dwarka" was conceived to give devotees a different experience on the occasion of the amrut mahotsavi year. He said it was an attempt to recreate, with the help of modern technology, the mythical city of Lord Krishna described in ancient texts.