Mumbai Welcomes Lalbaug’s Iconic Raja Tejukayacha: A 22-Foot Eco-Friendly Ganpati Idol with a Guinness World Record
- Neha Kumari
- Aug 25
- 4 min read
The city of dreams, Mumbai is preparing once again to celebrate in the most fantastic way possible, which is, the grand festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Among the large number of pandals and possessing skillfully designed idols spread throughout the city, one idol that is recognized in the city year after year is Raja Tejukayacha of Lalbaug.
This year, the festivities have attained a new high because a popular Ganpati idol has been made in a remarkable manner.
At 22 ft tall, this towering idol is crafted completely out of environmentally-friendly paper and is therefore, a Guinness World Record holder when it comes to its choice of materials and faithfulness to thriving sustainability.
A Green Idol-Breaker
In a city where Ganesh idols are mostly made out of Plaster of Paris and chemical paints, the organizers of Raja Tejukayacha have demonstrated a great example by deciding to go green.
This 22-foot Ganpati idol is made up of 100 per cent eco friendly paper, so that it does not cause damage to the lives of marine animals during visarjan (immersion). This is not only an idol that symbolizes faith, but also the symbol of environmental responsibility.
By getting his name there in the Guinness World Records, it is not only Mumbai that is proud of his feat but the entire nation. It can serve as a precedent that shows that devotion and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, thus other pandals can follow their example.
The History of Lalbaug Raja Tejukayacha
Tejukaya Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in Lalbaug which has been an attraction during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival since several decades.
The pandal is a spectacle characterized by its big themes and massive idols and has a huge footfall each year, amounting to lakhs of devotees.
The name Raja Tejukayacha alone adds to emotional value to the Mumbaikars as it is regarded as one of the most popular Ganpati idols in the city.
The lead idol of this year is however creating a phenomenon. It does not only symbolize devotion, tradition, and unity, but is also a way of worldwide acknowledgment to the festival in Mumbai due to its world record.
A Combination of Art, Piety and Eco-Friendliness
There is not much trifling in the preparation of a 22 foot paper image. Careful craftsmen spent months and months intricately layering eco-friendly paper so they could come up with not only a durable but also a grand product.
The idol has been made to appear huge yet without losing consistency to the idea of eco-friendly celebration.
This creation was not only aimed at breaking records, but also to provide a good example to the future generation.
As some environmental concerns are raised regarding the pollution caused by Ganpati immersions, it is an appealing way to ensure that devotion to the idol can also satisfy the current environmental issues and demands in a contemporary context.
Uniting in Celebration with Devotees
To have a glimpse of Raja Tejukayacha, lakhs of devotees queue up at Lalbaug, every year. This is the excitement every time, but this time there is more eagerness of people to watch the tallest eco-friendly idol of the Ganpati.
The pandal will ring with chants of- Ganapti Bappa Morya as family, kids and elders will converge to rejoice.
In addition to religious belief, the idol has also turned into a tourist attraction with people, not only in India but also people abroad, arriving to witness the glory.
Hotels, transportation, and local shops garner the biggest profits during this period and Ganesh Chaturthi can be termed as the most commercially profitable festival of Mumbai.
Pride of Mumbai
Raja Tejukayacha is not merely an idol and the symbol of the spirit of Mumbai. It portrays that the city can mix convention with modernity.
Mumbai has displayed the world another way to celebrate festivals with profound cultural values yet in a low-carbon footprint way.
The Guinness world record of the 22-foot eco-friendly paper idol has given the Mumbaikar on one more thing to celebrate. It has transformed Lalbaug in global map making this year shoveling of Ganesh Chaturthi not just to be a festival but a historic moment of the city.
Conclusion
When the 22-foot eco-friendly Ganpati idol Raja Tejukayacha is welcomed to the city of Mumbai, the city has pride, joy and devotion to offer. Not only is this almost mind-boggling idol a masterpiece of art, it is also a statement of sustainability and international awareness.
The chants reverberating through the streets and the participation of lakhs of people in celebration, will leave Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 in the annals of one of the most vivid festivals of all times in Mumbai.
In reality, Raja Tejukayacha has been very tall all right in both height, devotion and in the minds of the multitude.
📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | August 25, 2025
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