TOGA Guides Lead Iconic Ganesh Festival Tours in Mumbai
Mumbai’s grandest celebration, the Ganesh Festival, was observed from August 27 to September 6, 2025, with the Maharashtra Government officially declaring Ganeshotsav as a Rajya Mahotsav (State Festival).
Adding a new dimension to this much-loved festival, the Tourist Guides Association, Mumbai (TOGA) along with the Maharashtra Tour Guides & Tourists Facilitators Association (MTG&TFA), in collaboration with the Maharashtra Directorate of Tourism, curated Mumbai’s Iconic Ganapati Pandal Hopping Tours. These tours, sold via BookMyShow, gave visitors and devotees the unique privilege of quick entry into Mumbai’s most crowded and iconic pandals, ensuring a seamless experience of faith and culture.
Highlights of the Pandal Hopping Tour:
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Fort Cha Ichhapurti Ganesh Pandal – Award-winning artistry with a Somnath Temple theme.
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Keshavji Naik Chawl Ganapati, Girgaum – Mumbai’s first Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, now 133 years old.
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Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani – A finely crafted idol showcasing artisan brilliance.
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Lalbaug’s Mumbai Ka Raja at Ganesh Galli – Since 1928, a revered Navasacha Ganapati. This year’s décor featured Rameshwaram Temple, with Lord Hanuman and a Shiva Linga. TOGA arranged for devotees to be blessed with scarfs and laddoos.
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GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati, King’s Circle – India’s richest Ganesh idol, insured for ₹474.46 crore.
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GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Samiti, Wadala – Famous for serving Mahaprasad to devotees.
Despite challenges such as crowded streets, late-arriving devotees, and traffic delays due to the Maratha reservation agitation, TOGA and MTG&TFA guides managed the tours smoothly with patience, professionalism, and dedication — ensuring every devotee had a fulfilling experience.
TOGA’s Role in Preserving Culture & Enhancing Tourism
For TOGA guides, these tours were not just about managing crowds; they were about sharing stories, history, and cultural insights behind Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav. By blending faith with heritage interpretation, TOGA played a key role in positioning Mumbai’s Ganesh Festival as both a spiritual journey and a cultural tourism highlight.
