Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja takes insurance policy worth Rs 26.54 crore

MUMBAI: The countdown to Ganeshotsav has begun in right earnest for the festival falls barely ten days later September 19. Most large idols are being brought from the workshops to their pandals this weekend September 9-10.
The crowd puller idol of Lalbaugcha Raja is carved on site so there is no 'aagman' (arrival) procession.
This season, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal has taken insurance worth Rs 26.54 crore from New India Assurance.The policy covers risk by fire, theft, accident, stampede, terrorism and poisoning by prasad. It spans a duration of August 24 to October 23.
Mandal treasurer Mangesh Dalvi gave the break-up, "Of Rs 26.54 crore, Rs 12 crore is towards personal accident cover for devotees, trustees, registered executives and volunteers, residents and staff including security personnel and watchmen. In the event of a mishap, each victim is liable to receive up to Rs 5 lakh. All those who have been given an identity card of the Lalbaugcha Raja mandal will be considered eligible."
Dalvi said, "A further sum of Rs 5 crore is towards third party liability, including poisoning by prasad. Rs 2.5 crore covers damage to the set, all mandaps and the main gate, while Rs 7.04 crore insures the ornaments and valuables worn by the deity or placed in the mandap."
The mandal has paid a premium of Rs 5.40 lakh for this cover.
The insurance cover is marginally higher than Ganeshotsav 2022 when Lalbaugcha Raja had taken a policy worth Rs 25.6 crore from the same insurer and paid a premium of Rs 5.2 lakh.
Meanwhile, Lalbaug-Parel witnessed a grand spectacle Saturday as a floating crowd of approximately one lakh people gathered for the 'aagman sohala' (arrival) of the Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani from sculptor Vijay Khatu's workshop in Byculla to its pandal.
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Kalpana Gadekar said, "This is the largest 'aagman' procession not just in Mumbai but entire Maharashtra. Nearly 1 lakh to 1.25 people joined at various locations from Bakri Adda to Chinchpokli. We had held 4-5 meetings with the mandal to ensure peace and order."
Arvind Chandanshive, senior inspector of NM Joshi Marg police station, said a small crowd of 3,000 was present at the starting point near Arthur Road Jail but numbers swelled as Chinchpokli bridge approached.