Siddhivinayak Temple

Siddhivinayak means the Vinayaka (Ganesha) who grants siddhi — success and fulfilment — and the temple is revered as a place where sincere prayers bear fruit. Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings, is invoked here before any new venture. Tuesdays, sacred to Ganesha, see the largest crowds, and Ganesh Chaturthi transforms the whole city into celebration. For Mumbaikars, Siddhivinayak is both a spiritual anchor and a cultural icon.

Established in 1801 as a small shrine by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil, Siddhivinayak has grown into one of the wealthiest and most thronged temples in India. The central idol of Lord Ganesha, carved from a single block of black stone with the trunk turned to the right (considered especially powerful), is enshrined beneath a gold-plated dome. Devotees from every walk of life — including film stars, cricketers and industrialists — come to seek the blessings of the 'granter of wishes'. The temple's daily aartis and the fervent devotion of Mumbai's citizens give it an electric atmosphere.