Adorned with 69 kg Gold & 336 kg Silver, India’s Wealthiest Ganpati: ₹400 Crore Insurance & QR Code Entry for Darshan

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival eagerly awaited by all, celebrated with great enthusiasm across India every year. The Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, is renowned worldwide. 

The idols of Ganpati in Mumbai are one of a kind, with particular attention drawn every year to the idol installed by the GSB Seva Mandal. The Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Mandal’s Ganpati holds the title of the wealthiest Ganpati. Last year, the idol was adorned with 66 kg of gold and 295 kg of silver.

This year, the idol will be decorated with 69 kg of gold ornaments and around 336 kg of silver jewelry. Additionally, the GSB Mandal has insured the Ganpati pandal for ₹400.8 crore. The pandal is being made entirely fireproof, with entry facilitated through QR codes. 

The darshan of Lord Ganpati will commence on September 5th, while the festival officially begins on September 7th.

Cost and Features of the Largest Ganpati Idol Worship

The worship of the largest Ganpati idol will cost ₹7 lakh. The GSB Ganesh Mandal is located in Mumbai’s Kings Circle area, attracting both the general public and celebrities. This year marks the 70th year of the public Ganesh Utsav for the GSB Seva Mandal. Amit D. Pai, the president of the Mandal, shared details about the pandal with the media. 

Pai mentioned that two havan kunds have been set up in front of the Ganpati stage, where 7,000 havans will be performed daily. Various types of worship will take place in the pandal, with the smallest worship costing ₹555 and the largest costing ₹7 lakh. The entire pandal is fireproof, and its rent for the five days is ₹1.5 crore.

Entry via QR Code for Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration

For entry to the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, individuals must first register on the GSB website. A QR code will be issued, which must be scanned to gain access to the pandal. Approximately 16,000 people will be served meals daily at the pandal, and each devotee will receive a prasad packet. 

Last year, around 20,000 people visited the pandal daily. The darbar opens at 7 a.m. and remains open for darshan until 11 a.m. For the first time, the Seva Mandal has installed facial recognition cameras throughout the pandal to ensure the safety of the devotees.

₹400 Crore Insurance for Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

An insurance policy worth ₹400.58 crore has been taken out for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Last year, the GSB Board had a policy worth ₹360 crore. 

The Mandal organizes the Ganesh Utsav for five days each year, attracting millions of visitors, including the general public, VIPs, politicians, and celebrities. The festival sees a wide range of attendees coming to seek darshan of Lord Ganpati.

Coverage Under the Insurance Policy

The insurance policy will cover devotees visiting the Ganpati darbar, volunteers, cooks, service workers, valet parking and security staff, and stall workers. Additionally, devotees coming to the pandal are also insured for gold, silver, theft, and natural disasters through policies provided by the country’s largest insurance company.