The immersion of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai’s most famous Ganesh idol, witnessed an unusual moment this year when the idol remained stuck at sea for hours during visarjan.

As the procession reached the immersion point, strong tides slowed down the movement, leaving the idol afloat longer than expected. Thousands of devotees gathered at the spot considered the delay as a divine gesture, saying that the idol “stayed back to give darshan” for a little longer.

The 10-day Ganesh festival concluded with massive crowds accompanying Lalbaugcha Raja’s visarjan, as chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” echoed across the city. Despite the delay, the immersion was carried out smoothly under the supervision of authorities, with additional safety measures taken due to the heavy turnout of devotees.

For many, the moment was a memorable end to the festivities, adding another chapter to the legend of Lalbaugcha Raja.