CM Fadnavis bids farewell to Bappa at Girgaon Chowpatty
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joined millions of devotees at Girgaon Chowpatty on Anant Chaturdashi for an emotional Ganesh Visarjan, marking the close of Mumbai's ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations with a heartfelt farewell to Lord Ganesha.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the Ganesh Visarjan at Girgaon Chowpatty , South Mumbai, on Anant Chaturdashi .
He described the farewell as emotionally overwhelming, posting a video from the beachside immersion site.
Girgaon Chowpatty is the primary and most iconic venue for Ganesh idol immersions in Mumbai .
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival; Anant Chaturdashi is its final and most celebrated day.
Maharashtra political leaders have a longstanding tradition of participating in public visarjan events as a mark of cultural solidarity.
With Mumbai's shoreline lit by procession lights and devotion thick in the salt air, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joined lakhs of Ganesh devotees at Girgaon Chowpatty on the night of Anant Chaturdashi to bid an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesha — marking the close of the city's most beloved ten-day festival.
Posting a video from the iconic South Mumbai beach, Fadnavis wrote in Marathi: 'Bhavananni bharlelya manane… Girgaon Chaupatīvar lādkyā Bāppālā bhaktibhāvane bhāvapūrṇa nirōp!' — 'With a heart full of emotion… a heartfelt, devotion-filled farewell to beloved Bappa at Girgaon Chowpatty!'
Girgaon Chowpatty: Mumbai's emotional epicentre on Visarjan night
Girgaon Chowpatty is not merely a beach — it is the emotional fulcrum of Mumbai's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Every year, the shoreline becomes the destination for the city's grandest visarjan processions, drawing millions of devotees who wade into the sea to immerse their idols while chanting 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya' — 'Ganpati Bappa, return again soon next year.' The farewell carries as much joy as it does longing.
The festival, which runs for ten days culminating on Anant Chaturdashi, is a cultural cornerstone of Maharashtra. Ganesh Visarjan — the ritual immersion — is its emotional climax: processions wind through neighbourhoods, drums roar, colours fly, and then comes the quiet of immersion and departure. The cycle of arrival and farewell is the festival's beating heart.
Why Maharashtra's Chief Minister shows up
Maharashtra's political leaders have a longstanding tradition of joining public visarjan events at Chowpatty — participation that is both cultural and civic. For Fadnavis, the appearance reflects the state government's role as both custodian and celebrant of Maharashtra's defining public festival. The event also involves extensive coordination between Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Mumbai Police, and hundreds of neighbourhood Ganesh mandals — a logistical undertaking the government oversees each year.
The festival draws millions across Maharashtra, making Ganesh Chaturthi one of the largest public religious gatherings in the country — and Girgaon Chowpatty its most photographed moment.
As the sea receives Bappa one more time, Mumbai exhales — and already begins counting down to next year.
Point of View
Ganesh Chaturthi carries particular resonance — the festival was politically revived by Bal Gangadhar Tilak as a vehicle for mass mobilisation and retains deep community significance. The post's Marathi-language register and emotional tone also reflect a deliberate outreach to the state's Marathi-speaking base ahead of the festival season's close.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ganesh Visarjan and when does it happen?
Ganesh Visarjan is the ritual immersion of Lord Ganesha idols in water, marking the conclusion of the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It takes place on Anant Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.
Why is Girgaon Chowpatty famous for Ganesh Visarjan?
Girgaon Chowpatty in South Mumbai is the city's most iconic venue for Ganesh idol immersions, drawing lakhs of devotees annually and serving as the symbolic heart of Mumbai's Anant Chaturdashi celebrations.
Did CM Devendra Fadnavis attend Ganesh Visarjan 2026?
Yes, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the Ganesh Visarjan at Girgaon Chowpatty on Anant Chaturdashi in 2026, sharing a video from the event on his social media.
What does 'Ganapati Bappa Morya' mean?
'Ganapati Bappa Morya' is a traditional Marathi chant addressed to Lord Ganesha, roughly meaning 'O Lord Ganesha, my father!' It is the defining call of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across Maharashtra.
How long is the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Maharashtra?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for ten days in Maharashtra, beginning on Chaturthi and concluding with the grand Ganesh Visarjan processions on Anant Chaturdashi.
