India, Sept. 2 -- In the heart of Girgaon, away from the booming loudspeakers, dazzling lights, and elaborate pandals that often accompany Ganeshotsav celebrations in Mumbai, lies a more serene, time-honoured tradition-the Ganeshotsav at Keshavji Naik Chawl.

This historic chawl, which hosted Mumbai's first sarvajanik (public) Ganeshotsav in 1893, remains a bastion of peaceful celebration and cultural continuity. The initiative was inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a key figure in India's freedom movement, who popularised public Ganesh festivals to foster unity and collective identity during British rule.

Mangesh Pokale, a resident of the chawl, told HT, "The first Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav was started in 1893 by Lokmanya Tilak. He decided t...