- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:49 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Lalbaugcha Raja 2023: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's royal seal being placed on the feet of Mumbai's famous Ganesh statue Lalbaugcha Raja has drawn criticism from the Sakal Maratha Samaj Maharashtra. The organisation responsible for the ongoing Maratha reservation movement wrote to the Mumbai Police to request that they open an investigation into the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.
The Maratha group observed the royal seal being placed on the feet of the famous Ganesha idol on September 15, after the Mandal displayed the towering 14-feet idol for the first time. The Lalbaugcha Raja's pictures instantly went viral.
The Sakal Maratha Samaj accused the Mandal of insulting the followers of the legendary monarch by placing the royal seal, popularly known as the "Shivmudra," at the feet of the Lalbaugcha Raja idol in a letter dated September 16 which was addressed to the police commissioner.
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The Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati is God, but because of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, gods are housed in shrines, hence it is unacceptable for the royal seal to be placed at the feet of the idol, according to the letter from the organisation.
The letter, which was signed by Anol (Bhaiyya) Jadhav, advised the police to file a report following an investigation and stated that Sakal Maratha Samaj Maharashtra was not opposed to any deity or faith.