Nitin Desai Last Creation: Lalbaugcha Pandal For 2023 Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations Designed By Late Art Director; First Glimpse Revealed
As many anticipate the first glimpse of the Lord Ganesha's idol at Lalbaugcha in Maharashtra, it has been revealed that this year's pandal is the late art director Nitin Desai's last creation.
New Delhi: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most important festivals of Maharashtra. The festival will be celebrated across India from September 19 to September 28. The festivities for Ganesh Chaturthi 2023 have begun in full swing across the country. And, as many anticipate the first glimpse of the Lord Ganesha's idol at Lalbaugcha in Maharashtra, it has been revealed that this year's pandal is the late art director Nitin Desai's last creation. As per several media reports, the design of the diety's idol was completed shortly before the director committed suicide in August.
#WATCH | Maharashtra | First look of Lalbaugcha Raja unveiled in Mumbai ahead of #Ganeshotsav pic.twitter.com/wzNaDQ994M
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the most popular pandals in Mumbai. It is also one of the oldest pandals and attracts thousands of devotees from across the state and the country. Several celebrities and politicians also visit the pandal for darshan. This year, the pandal has begun making headlines for the design of its Lord Ganesh idol by art director Nintin Chandrakant Desai.
Nitin Desai had confirmed the completion of his word and Mandap Pujan's responsibilities through his Instagram post a few days before his death. Sharing several pictures of the layout of the pandal and the mandap he wrote, "May the king of Lalbagh be victorious. The mandap puja and decoration of Shri Ganesha in the 90th year of the Raja of Lalbagh was completed today. Ganapati Bappa Morya."
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Nitin Chandrakant Desai was one of the acclaimed art designers in Mumbai who worked with many Bollywood directors for designing their film sets. Desai worked with eminent directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Rajkumar Hirani and others. His portfolio included several hit films like 'Jodhaa Akbar', 'Devdas', 'Lagaan', 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' and more.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai was a recipient of the Filmfare Best Art Director Award and the National Film Award for Best Art Direction.
Unfortunately, on August 2, Desai committed suicide at his art studio in Karjat. Several reports suggested that the designer took the extreme step in financial distress as the studio was not earning well and he was under a massive loan.