General Information About Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai:

• Location: Prabhadevi in Mumbai
• Built By: Mr. Laxman Vithu and Mrs. Deubai Patil
• Built In: 1801
• Dedicated To: Lord Ganesha
• Attraction: A major temple of Lord Ganesha

More Information About Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai:

Shri Siddhivinayak offers an important opportunity for anyone who’s interested in seeing inside a Hindu temple and paying respect to one of Hinduism’s most revered Gods. While many Hindu temples only allow Hindus to enter, thereby adding to the religion’s mystery, this temple welcomes everyone with its open door policy. Visitors shouldn’t expect a peaceful experience however. On an average day, the temple draws over 25,000 people. Every Tuesday, the most auspicious day of the week, this number swells to over 100,000 people. From Monday evening, the crowd starts swarming around the temple and lining up in anticipation of Tuesday’s 4.45am holy aarti (prayer). With a queue that’s known to stretch for over 2 kilometres at times, devotees show an extraordinary amount of the characteristic patience that Indians are known for. Of course, being India, money also talks at this wealthy temple. Those not inclined to wait can bypass the slow moving queue by paying a fee at the VIP entrance, making a donation, or purchasing a silver or gold membership pass.The wooden main gate of the shrine is engraved with various images of Ashtavinayak, which symbolize the eight manifestations of Lord Ganesha. In the sanctum sanctorum, the gold-plated ceiling makes the worthy crown of the Lord. Ganpati is depicted with four arms, while holding a lotus flower, an axe, platter of modakas and a garland of beads respectively in each of his hands. The image is flanked by Riddhi and Siddhi, two consorts of Lord Ganesha. Near the main entrance of the temple complex, there is a beautiful image of Lord Hanuman. Tuesday is believed to be the ruling day of Lord Ganesha, so people come in large numbers on this day. In the year 1994, Siddhi Vinayak Temple was renovated to embrace the huge crowd. During the celebratory time of Ganesh Chaturthi, the temple is visited by inestimable number of people. It is said that Lord fulfills all the wishes of his loyal devotees.

How to Visit the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai:

The temple is located on the corner of Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg (more commonly known as K.G. Marg) and S.K. Bole Marg, in Mumbai’s central suburb of Prabhadevi near Dadar. Visitors can enter from 6am Wednesdays to Mondays, and 4am on Tuesdays. When attending the temple, the most important thing to keep in mind is to be clean and dress respectfully in conservative clothing that covers the legs and shoulders. To receive Lord Ganesha’s blessing, visitors should also bring an offering such as flowers and sweets to give to the God. Before entering the temple, everyone is required to undergo the necessary security checks, then remove their shoes and hand them to the clerk at the counter for safe keeping. Inside the temple, to the right, is the three doored sanctum that houses the elaborate statue of Lord Ganesha. Those who look up will see the sanctum’s gold plated dome sparkling in the glow of an opulent chandelier. However, there’s no time to waste as the temple priests herd the crowds through the sanctum with orders of chalo, chalo (move, move). Visitors should say a prayer, hand their offerings to one of the temple priests inside the sanctum, and receive Prasad (a re-distribution of the offerings, which have been blessed by the God). Two large silver mice statues can also be found inside the temple. It’s believed that these mice, as Lord Ganesha’s ‘vehicle’, will carry the devotees’ wishes to him. Visitors should approach one of the two mice, give it some Prasad, and while placing a hand over one of the mouse’s ears, whisper their wishes into the other ear.

Siddhivinayak Temple also makes a major landmark of Prabhdevi in Mumbai. Outside the temple, there is a narrow lane that is known as ‘Phool Gali’. Here, one can see numerous stalls selling coconut, tulsi flower garlands and an assortment of sweets. However, Ladoo or Modak (pear shaped yellow sweet) finds the special attraction as it is the favorite sweet of Ganesha.

The temple is prominent amongst the Hindu followers and receives many devotees every day. Keeping this fact in mind, the government of Maharashtra has arranged a tight security in and outside the temple. During the days of Angaraki and Sankashti Chaturthi, the temple is occupied from inch to inch. Devotees visit this temple to seek the blessings from the Lord.

How to Reach Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai:

One can easily reach here by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city.One can easily reach Siddhivinayak Temple by taking local Buses, auto-rickshaws or by hiring taxis from Mumbai