Mumbai: Outrage over VIP treatment at Lalbaug Cha Raja Pandal as devotees face restriction | VIDEO

New Delhi: Visuals of Lalbaug Cha Raja, one of Mumbai’s most iconic and highly visited Ganesh Pandals, are circulating widely online, showcasing the grandeur of the Ganesh Utsav celebrations. These visuals include daily darshan photos, drone shots capturing the beautifully illuminated streets, and videos of celebrities attending the darshan lane. However, some footage has sparked controversy, highlighting the stark contrast in treatment between general devotees and VIPs.

Controversial videos show disparity in darshan experience

Among the viral videos, several clips show bouncers forcefully moving devotees along after they briefly touch the feet of Lalbaug Cha Raja (Charan Sparsh). Female bouncers were seen pushing devotees, ensuring they leave the premises quickly to maintain the flow of the queue. While this crowd management effort may seem necessary to allow everyone a chance for darshan, the videos sparked outrage online when compared to how VIPs were treated.

In these clips, VIPs are seen lingering at the feet of Lalbaug Cha Raja, taking their time with the darshan and even posing for photos, while regular devotees were hurriedly moved along. This perceived preferential treatment triggered a wave of criticism on social media, with many netizens expressing their frustration.

VIP culture sparks public backlash

The contrasting behavior between general devotees and VIPs raised concerns about the growing VIP culture at religious events. "Won't be surprised if Lalbaugcha Raja Pandal becomes VIP-only in the future," commented one user. Others suggested designating separate days for VIP darshan to ensure fair treatment for all.

While netizens continued to respect the sanctity of Lalbaug Cha Raja and his miracles, they voiced their disappointment at the unequal treatment of devotees. Many hoped that the organizers would consider addressing these concerns in the future.

This year, notable celebrities and political figures such as Amit Shah, Uddhav Thackeray, Shilpa Shetty, and Vicky Kaushal have already visited the pandal, alongside thousands of everyday devotees.