Girgaon is where Mumbai’s public Ganeshotsav began, and the old Marathi wadis and chawls around Khadilkar Road, Khetwadi and Thakurdwar still hold some of the oldest mandals in the city. The idols here are often smaller than in Lalbaug, the lanes are narrow, and the character is closer to a neighbourhood festival than a spectacle.
Khetwadi is the exception: its lanes compete on height, and some of the tallest idols in Mumbai stand in them.
The names
Mandals, places and people, with what each one is| Name | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Keshavji Naik Chawl1893 | Khadilkar Road, Girgaon | Mumbai’s first sarvajanik Ganeshotsav; unbroken since 1893 and still without sponsorship. |
| Girgaoncha Raja1928 | Nikadwari Lane, Girgaon | One of the old Girgaon mandals. |
| Khetwadicha Ganraj1959 | Khetwadi 12th Lane | Very tall idols and heavy gold ornament. |
| Khetwadi lanes 6 to 13 | Khetwadi, Girgaon | Each lane has its own mandal and they compete on height and design. |
| Fort Cha Raja1960s | Fort | The office district’s mandal. |
| Thakurdwar and Kalbadevi mandals | Thakurdwar, Kalbadevi | Neighbourhood mandals in the old market lanes. |
| Chira Bazaar and Bhuleshwar mandals | Bhuleshwar | Small mandals in the wholesale district. |
| Girgaon Chowpatty | Chowpatty | The main immersion beach; the whole city converges here on Anant Chaturdashi. |
| Colaba and Cuffe Parade mandals | Colaba | Smaller mandals at the southern tip. |
| Bhau Rangari style idols1890s | Girgaon workshops | The older idol form, before the modern seated Raja style took over. |
Worth knowing
- Girgaon is walkable between a dozen mandals in an evening.
- Khetwadi’s lanes compete on height; the tallest idols in the city are often here.
- Keshavji Naik Chawl is the historical one and takes ten minutes, not ten hours.
- Girgaon Chowpatty on Anant Chaturdashi is the single biggest gathering of the festival.
- Charni Road and Grant Road stations are the access points; driving is not possible.
More on Ganeshotsav
Read the city another way
A note on this page. Festival dates move with the lunar calendar and arrangements change every year. Everything here is a snapshot of Mumbai as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check timings, routes and darshan rules before you travel.
Mandal, temple, shop and company names belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement, ranking or affiliation.
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