Sakinakyacha Maharaja Welcomed with Grand Aagman Procession in Saki Naka

Thousands of devotees gathered in Saki Naka on Saturday to welcome the arrival of the Sakinakyacha Maharaja idol with an extravagant aagman procession ahead of the Ganesha Chaturthi festival.

The procession for the 45-foot-tall idol featured traditional Nashik dhol and Lavani dance performances. Crowds assembled along the route as the procession began at the pandal's location at Samhita Complex near the Telephone Exchange in Saki Naka, moving through the Kurla-Andheri Link Road, Safed Pul, and Central Hospital before heading back to the pandal.

According to Jack Jikamade, secretary of the mandal, the idol is believed to be one of the tallest across Maharashtra this year. Jikamade noted that large crowds filled the streets of Saki Naka to catch a first glimpse of the deity. The Jai Jawaan Govinda Pathak team, which set a world record for the tallest human pyramid in 2022, also attended the event to present a salute to the deity.

The Saki Naka celebration was among more than 59 major community pandals across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region that officially welcomed their idols on Saturday, roughly two weeks before the main festival.

Across the city, major mandals such as Chinchpoklicha Chintamani, Parelcha Raja, Mumbaicha Peshwa, Colabacha Raja, and Chemburcha Chintamani held their arrival processions. In South-Central Mumbai, the Chinchpokli Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal marked its 107th year with a 14-foot-tall idol inspired by a Tirupati Balaji theme, crafted by sculptor Siddhesh Dighole of Kalagandha Arts in Parel.

Saturday's widespread processions followed an earlier rollout on August 15, when 21 pandals brought their idols home. At least 123 additional pandals, including Girgaoncha Raja, Mumbaicha Icchapurti, Khetwadicha Chintamani, and Tardeocha Raja, were scheduled to receive their deities on Sunday.