GSB Seva Mandal Secures Rs 703.27 Crore Insurance for King's Circle Festivities

Mumbai’s Gowd Saraswat Brahman (GSB) Seva Mandal has secured an insurance cover of Rs 703.27 crore for its five-day Ganpati celebrations at King’s Circle in Matunga East.

According to GSB Seva Mandal convenor Dr Bhujang Pai, the MahaGanapati idol will be adorned with over 66 kg of gold, 335 kg of silver, and precious gemstones donated by devotees. Marking its 72nd year of festivities, the mandal is scheduled to unveil the first look of its ‘Virat Darshan’ on September 12, 2026, at 8 pm.

The annual celebrations will take place at the mandal’s venue in Matunga East from September 14 to September 18. This year, the organisers are focusing on environmental sustainability by installing a completely eco-friendly idol. The mandal has also eliminated paper wastage by transitioning entirely to digital receipts for sevas and donations.

Revered globally as ‘Navsala Pavnara Vishwacha Raja’, meaning the King of the Universe who fulfils devotees’ wishes, the idol draws large crowds of worshippers each year. Organisers anticipate conducting more than 1 lakh poojas and sevas over the five-day period.

The mandal will also organise its traditional Annadan Prasad feast during the festival. More than 40,000 devotees will be served food on banana leaves daily, with the total number of people partaking in the feast expected to exceed two lakh across the five days.

The current insurance policy marks an increase from the previous year's arrangements, when the mandal obtained an insurance cover of Rs 474.46 crore. During that celebration, the idol was decorated with more than 69 kg of gold ornaments, over 336 kg of silver, and other valuables offered by devotees.

The GSB Seva Mandal was established in Mumbai on Vijayadashami in 1951, and its formal Ganeshotsav celebrations commenced in 1955.