“Mumbai’s Carnival of Colour.”

Commissioned by NatGeo Traveller. See the full photo story here.

Above: If there’s one thing which has remained consistent with Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, it’s a heavy downpour. And, it has never deterred devotees. Here, crowds gather at Chinchpoklicha Raja, a vibrant pandal, right across the street from the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, despite battering rains.

Photographs don’t often convey the scale of these idols - so I was on the lookout for a frame that would communicate the staggering nature of how big they can get. This was taken right before a pandal opened to the public for prayers - with craftsmen still tweaking details and prepping the idol.

Big, crowded pandals are only one half of how Mumbai celebrates - the other half is families welcoming Lord Ganesha into their homes. Quieter, and more solemn, pujas at home are a much more intimate celebration and can vary from one home to another.

With the Bandra-Worli Sea Link as the backdrop, devotees walk into the rushing waves at Dadar Chowpatty, bidding goodbye to their favorite God. Families watch from the shore as the waves swallow the idols one after another. For many who don’t enter the water themselves, volunteers promptly carry out the visarjan so that the other families waiting in line can get time to do the same.