Ganesh Galli, Lalbag

The largest bull to ever block a Mumbai Galli!

The Mysore theme pandal in Ganesh Galli also features a replica of the 3rd largest Nandi statue on Chamundi Hills, Mysore and the Chamundeshwari Temple. It's a scaled down version and by itself, could easily rate in the top 10 largest Nandi statues.

The largest Nandi is the one in Lepakshi(Close to Hindupur, Andra Pradesh). The one in Mysore is the 3rd largest. The Ganesh Galli one seems to be a little smaller than the one 4th largest in Bull Temple, Bangalore. And about the same as the one in Rameshwaram (5th largest, in South TN). And I just realised that of the 8 biggest Nandis, I haven't seen only one - the second largest in Thanjavur, TN.

1. Lepakshi, AP
2. Brahadishwara, Thanjavur, TN

3. Chamundi Hills, Mysore, KA

4. Bull Temple, B'lore, KA

5, Rameshwaram, TN

6. Hoysaleshwara, Halebid, KA
7. Shantaleshwara, Halebid, KA

8. Vadaku-nathan, Trichur, KL

(Source: Wikipedia)

Ganesh Galli, Lalbag (entrance)

Nandi. Welcoming people to the Ganesh Galli Pandal.

Ganesh Galli, Lalbag

Mysore (ಮೈಸೂರು - Maisūru) Chamundeshwari Temple is this year's theme at Ganesh Galli Ganapati Pandal, Lalbag.

That's demon Mahishasura's statue that's being prepared to greet Ganesh bhakts who will come to view Lalbagcha raja. An exact replica of the same statue that welcomes people at the roundabout just before you enter the temple complex on Chamundi hills.

And why am I excited? Because it's from my home state and Mysore is my favourite city, even though I have never lived there.

And yes, Ganesh Chaturti is as big a festival in Karnataka as it is in Maharastra and shares the same history. One of the earliest known inscription of Marathi is found in Sravanabelagola, not too far from Mysore in Southern Karnataka and the languages spoken in Karnataka share many similarities with Marathi.

Tulsi Pipe Road

Work Space Mumbai Series

Tulsi Pipe Road

How to build a home in 10 minutes with two poles and a blue plastic sheet.

Parkar Chowk, Mahim

Walls of Mumbai Series: Miracles, outside a Beauty Parlour.

Sandhurst Rroad

"India"

Western Express Highway

Female Govindas and two Gopalas.

The Swastik Mahila Dahi Handi team is supposed to be the first girls Dahi handi breaking team.

Imamwadi Road

Walls of Mumbai Series: All the right words.

See the Walls of Mumbai Series here.

Mumbai Central + Bandra Terminus

Western Railway's Flying Ranee (Surat - Mumbai Central - Surat Super Fast)

Now, that's a good name for a train. It's so much better than the politically motivated, boring names like the Garib Rath. They could have at least given it a name with some spark like the Sampark Kranti. However, the name 'Duranto' must be the most interesting names ever given for a train. 'Quick' in Bengali sounds like 'A Bad End' in Hindi.

The Flying Ranee runs on the Western railway on the main line that connects Mumbai and Gujarat. It's a very efficiently run stretch and the best thing, according to me, are the double-decker cars on the Ranee and the Valsad Fast Passenger, which probably is the only really 'fast' running passenger on our railway system. I'm waiting for a chance to hop into one of them and click pictures on a busy working day.