Sidhivinayak Temple
The sign of traditional beauty and architecture is Sidhivinayak Temple. It is devoted to that idol of Hinduism which has the head of elephant to which we call “Lord Ganesh”. This temple is positioned at Prabhadevi which is in Mumbai (Maharashtra).Over 25,000 devotees have rushed towards the temple so as to offer prayers and get blessed by Lord Ganesh. The most important day of Worship and Darshan is Tuesday. So many Bollywood celebrities visit the place and get blessed by Lord Ganesh so as to be prosperous forever. It is the good-luck charm of many people. It is the great masterpiece of art with a feeling of divinity.The temple was of 2550 sq m consisting of two 3.6 m Deepamalas, a rest house and living quarters for the caretaker. In the early 19thcentury a lake of 30 x 40 sq. m. was dug in order to meet out the scarcity of water. In 1950s and 60s the temple become so much popular. The number of aficionados was increased after 1975.
Getting There
One can reach Mumbai by mean of three modes road, rail and air. The journey through air can be carried out by Chhatrapati Shivaji international Airport and Santacruz domestic airport. Mumbai is connected by many cities through the rail network. The other way to reach Mumbai is by mean of self-drive. After reaching Mumbai one can reach the shrine by mean of hiring car, taxi, auto-rickshaw and bus.
Security And Some Tips
There are good security arrangements at this shrine. 25 police personals are appointed for temple’s security and crowd management. A number of CCTV cameras are installed within the temple premises for putting an eye on each and every activity of devotees. The scanner and metal detector is placed at the entrance of the shrine so as to avoid the entry of unwanted element like bomb, gun and knife etc. Yatris should not carry cash and ornaments with them. They should keep their luggage at safe and secure place.
When To Visit
The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning on Tuesday and Friday. It is opened all the days of the week. Its timings are 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. The duration of the visit of this temple is 1 to 2 hours.
What To See And Do
The design of Sidhivinayak Temple is beautiful. The deity of Lord Ganesh is carved from a single black stone whose height is 2½ feet. The idol’s trunk is skewed from right and the figure is represented with 4 hands. Figures of ‘Goddess Riddhi’ and ‘Goddess Siddhi’ have surrounded both sides of the idol. Lord Ganesh is positioned at the small hall i.e. ‘mandapam' of the shrine. The deity of Lord Ganesh is covered by ‘Gabhara' which is an octagonal shelter that is about ten feet wide. The beauty of the idol is boosted by gold plated inner roof of Gabhara.The laddus and pedas are distributed as Prasad.
There are two types of darshan takes place in the shrine i.e. General Darshan and Common (Mukha) Darshan or Darshan from a Distance.
For having general Darshan of Lord Ganesh there are two gates:
- Siddhi Gate:
This gate is situated at S K Bole Marg (Cadell Road side). After crossing police security check devotees come across Siddhivinayak Police Chowky from which a left turn is taken to join the queue going towards Gate No. 7.which is the Queue for free General Darshan.
- Riddhi Gate:
This gate is situated at Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg (Nardulla Tank Maidan side). The same process is carried out as by Siddhi gate.
After General Darshan Devotees has to cross Gate no 4 for getting exit. Normal day takes 30-45 minutes while Tuesday and holidays take 1.5 -2 hours for General Darshan.
Common (Mukha) Darshan is meant for those devotees who do not have a time for Darshan. When devotees pass Riddhi or siddhi gate then they have to approach Gate no 5 and join the queue of Common (Mukha) Darshan or Darshan from a Distance. Here also Gate no 4 has to be crossed for exit.
Where To Stay
There are many dharamshalas in Mumbai where people can have their stay at economical price. They are: Agashi Jain Dharamshala, Marwadi Panchayati Wadi, Shri Sukkur Panchayat Of Bombay, Kabutar Khana Jain Dharmashala, Motisha Jain Derasar and Mahavir Dham Dharamshala etc.
Where Else To Stay
Yatris can also have their stay at hotels near Sidhivinayak Temple as they provide luxury. These hotels are: Centralline Guest House, Marigold Residency, Hotel Karishma, Hotel Avon Ruby and The Emerald – Hotel & Executive Apartments etc.
Festivals
The festival which is celebrated in this shrine is Ganesha Chaturthi which is celebrated in the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). Devotees pray for the god whole of the day during this festival. Sweets, coconut, jaggery, rice, flowers and coins are offered to the god. Special events and pujas are organized during this occasion.
Side Trips
There are many places to visit around Sidhivinayak Temple. These places are: Ravindra natya mandir, Prabha Devi Mandir, Pl deshpande art gallery, Vaman Dev Mandir, Jakhadevi Temple, Gyan Mandir, Fame Nakshatra and Holy Cross Church etc.
Travel Tips
Yatris should take video camera to trap whole of the visit as a living memory. They should also take a personal diary so as to have a written record of the whole visit along with the feelings and emotions at that moment. They should also hire a tourist guide for having the complete knowledge of the temple including its history. They should also take first aid in order to cure frequent injury.
Thus, for getting the happy and prosperous life one has to visit a divine beauty i.e Sidhivinayak Temple so as to get blessed from Lord Ganesh.
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