“Don’t visit Lalbaugcha Raja unless you have ‘100 crores’”, devotee’s ordeal goes viral

During the peak of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai, one Reddit post has quietly cut through the noise and devotion– not with praise, but with deep disappointment. Titled “Don’t Visit Lal Baug Cha Raja, if you aren’t a public figure or have 100s crores in your pocket”, the post has gone viral for calling out what the user describes as a deeply mismanaged and unsafe experience at the city's most renowned Ganpati pandal.The account, shared by a devotee who travelled from Surat with family, highlights not just inconvenience but also injury and distress, alleging a lack of basic concern from both organisers and on-ground staff. With lakhs of people gathering each year, the post has raised a wider question: are ordinary devotees being overlooked in the name of tradition?A devotional journey that ended in chaosAccording to the now-viral post, the family had travelled to Mumbai specifically for Charan Darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja.

But the experience on the ground was far from spiritual. “Today, my family and I travelled from Surat to Mumbai for Charan Darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja. What should have been a spiritual experience turned into a nightmare of mismanagement and inhumanity.”Reddit post:

The situation inside the premises reportedly became physically dangerous. From injuries to a near-medical emergency, the post describes multiple points of concern.

“My younger sister got a head injury due to the uncontrolled crowd.” “My mother's kurti sleeve was torn, and her hand could've got major deep cut; she was violently pushed by staff.” “My father fainted inside due to suffocation. Shockingly, neither the Mandal management nor the Mumbai Police bothered to help, provide water, or clear the crowd.”VIP treatment vs public neglect?One of the most shocking observations in the post is the stark divide in how different visitors are treated.

The user claims that while celebrities are given a clear path to darshan, the average devotee is left struggling.“Meanwhile, celebrities get peaceful darshan with the entire mandap cleared for them. Ordinary devotees who travel miles in faith are treated like cattle.” The family had to abandon their plan midway due to the father’s deteriorating condition, without even seeing the idol, as mentioned in the viral post.

“We had to leave without darshan because of my father's condition.”“Crores in donations, but not even basic help”Despite the popularity of the mandal and the reported scale of donations, the user says basic necessities like water, medical aid, and crowd regulation were missing.“It's shocking that despite crores in donations every year, there's no basic crowd control, drinking water, or medical aid. Attaching photos as proof.” “Devotees deserve better than this.

Shameful.”Users online share similar concernsAs the post gained attention, it quickly drew reactions from others who had been through similar experiences– not just at Lalbaugcha Raja, but at other large-scale public events as well.One Redditor commented: “You realised too late, my friend.” Another pointed out a larger issue: “Never visit any crowded place in India, whether it is for religious or entertainment purposes.”A third user shared their own experience: “Last year, my mother's cousin went there with her children. They joined the line at 8 AM and their turn came at 10.30 PM. Even then, they were pushed aside within seconds.”Disclaimer: This article is based on a publicly available Reddit post. All quotes are taken directly from the original user’s account and have not been altered. The views expressed belong solely to the poster.Thumb image credits: X/Canva