Mumbai: ‘VIP Culture’ At Lalbaugcha Raja? Viral Video Gets Backlash As Netizens Say ‘Religion Sold To The Rich’

A viral video exposed VIP culture at Lalbaugcha Raja's Ganesh idol festival. It shows devotees taking selfies while security rushes others to keep the queue moving.

The viral video shows that a family gets VIP treatment at Lalbaugcha Raja while other devotees are quickly moved along.

Source : X/@runkarthikrun

A video portraying VIP culture allegedly practiced in Lalbaugcha Raja, a famous Ganesh idol located in Lalbaug, Mumbai has ignited critical responses on social media regarding privilege and devotion. The video which went viral on X shows two striking scenes in one frame, that lead to a discussion among people about faith and equality.

In the viral video, on one side a few devotees can be seen comfortably taking a selfie in front of the Ganesh idol, and on the other side, a member of the security team of the pandal is seen rushing people to keep the queue moving, pushing them aside as soon as they appear before the idol.

"Won't be surprised if Lalbaugcha Raja Pandal is declared as VIP only in the future. The treatment is so highly visible in a single frame. High time Mumbai Police takes over the crowd management, otherwise, slowly will lose essence amongst the common public, " an X user wrote while sharing the video.

Won't be surprised if Lalbaugcha Raja Pandal is declared as VIP only in future. The treatment is so highly visible in a single frame.

High time Mumbai Police takes over the crowd management, otherwise, slowly will lose essence amongst the common public.

📹 Reddit pic.twitter.com/kV6clamdsl

— Karthik Nadar (@runkarthikrun) September 12, 2024

Netizens' Responses To Viral Video Of Lalbaugcha Raja

As soon as the video went viral, netizens expressed their dismay over the situation which is common in India at different temples. One of the users said, "Like I have stopped. I do take darshan on the visarjan day. It also gets into a stampede situation, but atleast I ain't losing my self-respect."

Another user said, "Local friends in Mumbai suggested me to visit Lalbaugcha Raja pandal when I was in Mumbai. I told them I prefer keeping my self respect intact over getting few seconds of darshan."

A netizen commented, "Not just this, all the grand temples in India have the worst crowd management. You can hardly have a glimpse and you get pushed. You need to pay if you want prasad in return."

Another user also said, "Nothing will happen. It is we common people who make these places famous and then it is we who r treated this way. Over time the organisers have forgotten all this. But public will never learn anything. Religion makes common ppl sentimental and is sold to the riches. Thats it."