The excitement of Ganeshotsav in Mumbai has always been the center of attraction for tourists. However, now this attraction has transformed into group tours. During the Ganeshotsav period, hundreds of devotees from Gujarat, near Maharashtra, are seen coming every day in 60 to 80 private buses just to have darshan of the Lalbaughcha Raja and other important Ganeshas of Mumbai, as per the report by Loksatta. In these group tours of just 24 hours, Ganesh darshan is also being completed along with the Mumbai tour.
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Police officers of the traffic department of Palghar district have observed that the number of devotees coming from Gujarat has increased significantly after the corona period. Interestingly, it has also started taking the form of group tours. From these trips, hundreds of devotees travel to Mumbai for just one day in small and big buses and private vehicles. The number of pilgrims coming from Vapi, Silvassa, Daman, Chikhli, Valsad, Navsari and Surat is high. People are charged between one and a half thousand rupees for these trips through private tour agencies. Apart from this, there is also a tendency to form a group of family or friends and reach Mumbai for Ganesh Darshan by hiring a bus. Apart from this, it has been seen that such trips are being sponsored by local leaders of some political parties in Gujarat.
Recruitment of coordinators in Mumbai
Tour professionals have also appointed coordinators in Mumbai to ensure that the darshan of Ganpati in Mumbai and the parking facility are done properly. These coordinators contact the bus drivers and plan the trips in Mumbai. In return, they get a good commission, a bus driver informed Loksatta.