📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Nikhil12sutar
Religion
Ganpati idol travels 1,700 km by train from Mumbai to Gaya for 10th-year festival
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gaya
🗓 15 Sep 2026, 07:16 PM
👁 14
A 10‑day Ganpati festival in Gayaji, Powerganj, Gaya began with the arrival of a Ganpati idol that was hauled by train from Mumbai, covering roughly 1,700 kilometres.
The annual ten‑day Ganpati Mahotsav in Gayaji, Powerganj, Gaya, Bihar, kicked off today with a ceremonial procession. After a 1,700‑kilometre rail journey from Mumbai, the Ganpati idol was received by local devotees and placed on a specially prepared dais.
Organisers marked the occasion as the tenth consecutive year that the deity has been transported by train, a tradition that has become a hallmark of the festival. The arrival was accompanied by traditional music, chants, and a large gathering of worshippers who consider the long journey a sign of devotion.
The idol will remain in the city for the duration of the ten‑day celebration, during which cultural programs, community meals and religious rites are scheduled. Authorities have coordinated with railway officials to ensure the safe and timely movement of the sacred statue.
Local officials praised the seamless logistics, noting that the event draws visitors from surrounding districts and contributes to the region’s cultural vibrancy. The festival concludes with a grand darbar, where the deity will be honored before being taken back to Mumbai.
Organisers marked the occasion as the tenth consecutive year that the deity has been transported by train, a tradition that has become a hallmark of the festival. The arrival was accompanied by traditional music, chants, and a large gathering of worshippers who consider the long journey a sign of devotion.
The idol will remain in the city for the duration of the ten‑day celebration, during which cultural programs, community meals and religious rites are scheduled. Authorities have coordinated with railway officials to ensure the safe and timely movement of the sacred statue.
Local officials praised the seamless logistics, noting that the event draws visitors from surrounding districts and contributes to the region’s cultural vibrancy. The festival concludes with a grand darbar, where the deity will be honored before being taken back to Mumbai.