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The year the giant clay king melted into the sea.

A local volunteer describes the breathtaking chaos of bidding farewell to Mumbai's favorite elephant-headed deity on a stormy night.

Girgaon Chowpatty, Maharashtra
The rhythmic, booming beat of the traditional dhol-tasha drums vibrated deep inside my chest. It was the final evening of the Ganesh festival, and the dark sand of Girgaon Chowpatty was entirely buried under a massive sea of human beings. Red gulal powder floated heavily in the warm air, sticking to our sweaty faces and coating our clothes. I was part of a tight human chain, waist-deep in the cool, swirling ocean water.

Right above us loomed a magnificent, twenty-foot-tall idol of Lord Ganesha, resting on a heavy wooden cart. The water pulled hard against our legs, and the salty breeze carried the thunderous roars of thousands of voices chanting for his return next year. My arms ached from pushing against the strong waves, and my eyes stung from a mix of salt water and emotional tears. As the massive clay structure slowly tipped forward and gently dissolved into the deep dark sea, a strange, beautiful silence fell over our group despite the noisy city behind us. Some rituals break your heart, yet they leave you feeling completely connected to every stranger standing next to you.

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Girgaon Chowpatty

<p>Girgaon Chowpatty is Mumbai’s ultimate beachside escape, located right at the edge of the iconic Marine Drive in South Mumbai. This lively public shoreline is famous across India for its stunning s...

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