- By Yashashvi Tak
- Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Reddit post about a visit to Mumbai’s famed Lalbaugcha Raja is going viral after a devotee from Surat described the experience as a “nightmare.” The individual, who had travelled to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings on the auspicious occasion, alleged gross mismanagement and preferential treatment for celebrities.
In a post titled “Don’t Visit Lalbaugcha Raja, if you aren’t a public figure or have 100s crores in your pocket”, the devotee recounted what they called a “horrible experience,” criticizing the crowd control and calling out the “inhumanity” of the arrangements.
The Reddit user wrote, “My family and I travelled from Surat to Mumbai for Charan Darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja. What should have been a spiritual experience turned into a nightmare of mismanagement and inhumanity.”
He claimed his younger sister sustained a head injury in the “uncontrolled crowd,” while his mother’s kurti sleeve was torn and her hand nearly injured after being “violently pushed by staff.” His father, he added, fainted due to suffocation inside the mandap. “Shockingly, neither the Mandal management nor the Mumbai Police offered help, water, or even tried to clear the crowd,” he alleged, adding that the family had to leave without darshan because of his father’s condition.
Don’t Visit Lal Baug Cha Raja, if you aren’t a public figure or have 100s crores in your pocket
byu/MasalaGuy inindia
The post further accused the organisers of favouring celebrities, claiming that while ordinary devotees “who travel miles in faith are treated like cattle,” special guests were offered peaceful darshan with the mandap cleared for them. “It’s shocking that despite crores in donations every year, there’s no basic crowd control, drinking water, or medical aid. Devotees deserve better than this. Shameful,” the user wrote.
Natizens Reacted On the Post
A user wrote, “Bappa has left long ago. That's just a business now, I am sorry if I hurt anyone but that's reality. It has become a status symbol now. Forgive me bappa but those lal baug people are no devotees of you, only the money they earn in your name.”
Another said, “When will people learn that God doesn’t reside in places like these. What kind of life change do you guys expect after these “Darshan”. Do some social work instead to get good karma. All temples and religious events are more entertainment venues than spiritual experiences. It’s akin to going to a theme park.”
“As someone who grew up in the area, it was ripe with underworld and financed by black money. Nothing holy about it, it's just ugly place now,” other user said.
“Religion is just business at this point,” a person said.
