Morya Pathak Honors BEST Workers During Kalachowki Ganpati Aagman

Around 125 members of the Morya Dhol Tasha Pathak paid a tribute to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) service by dressing in transit uniforms during the Kalachowkicha Mahaganpati Aagman procession in Kalachowki on August 16.

The South and Central Mumbai-based dhol-tasha troupe took part in the arrival ceremony dressed as various personnel from the city's public transport workforce. Volunteers appeared in the procession attired as bus drivers, mechanics, and ticket inspectors.

In addition to the uniforms, the group mounted a model of a BEST bus above its name banner. During the procession through the area, troupe members interacted with working BEST bus drivers and conductors to acknowledge their daily contributions to the city.

According to members of the pathak, the tribute was designed to highlight the difficulties and concerns surrounding BEST and its employees, as well as the overall condition of the civic transport network. The theme also followed a recent BEST strike that disrupted transport operations across Mumbai and impacted thousands of daily commuters.

The troupe has previously highlighted social and cultural themes during Ganeshotsav. In the previous year, Morya Dhol Tasha Pathak dedicated its presentation to the Marathi language, with members attending the event dressed as school students and teachers.

The tribute formed part of the broader arrival ceremony for the Kalachowkicha Mahaganpati, organized by the Kalachowki Vibhag Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal. Established in 1956, the mandal is situated in Kalachowki opposite Chinchpokli Chintamani in the Lalbaug-Parel belt.

The 24-foot idol, designed in a Mahalakshmi avatar, was brought from a workshop in Parel to Kalachowki accompanied by large crowds, celebrations, and dhol-tasha performances.