Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most celebrated Ganesh idol and the cynosure of all eyes during the ten-day Ganpati festival, has a 73-year long history.
The first Lalbaugcha Raja was sculpted by late Madhusudan Kambli in 1934
Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most celebrated Ganesh idol and the cynosure of all eyes during the ten-day Ganpati festival, has a 73-year long history. A tradition sculpted by one family even before the Lalbaugcha Raja formally came into existence.
Three generations of the Kambli family has worked hard to keep one of city’s landmark events alive. The first Lalbaugcha Raja was sculpted by Late Madhusudan Kambli in 1934. So compelling was his piece of art that he was asked to continue till 1952.
Ratnakar Kambli, son of Madhusudan Kambli says, “Our family has been into sculpting ever since we can remember. So my father was naturally entrusted with the responsibility of making the idol.”
Kambli senior continued making the idol till 1952. Things, however, changed after his death and the work was given to another person.
Remisces Ratnakar, “After my father’s death, we were too young to take up the responsibility. It was only after a few years when my elder brother Venkatesh was ready that the work came back to us.”
Venkatesh carried on the good work till 1989, when the Mandal ran into some differences with the family. Thus from 1990, the contract fell in the lap of another sculptor.
Ratnakar’s son Santosh says “For a decade, we had problems with the Mandal, but that’s not something we would like to remember. We won the contract back from 2000. We feel proud that our idols down the years have not only become famous in the country but also abroad.”
In 2004, Venkatesh, till then the group leader, passed away, but Ratnakar was ready to take on the responsibility.
“We have sustained and excelled because we don’t run after money. We concentrate only on few orders from others Mandals. The rest of the year, we are into decoration business,” says Ratnakar.
The Kamblis say that the Lalbaugcha Raja has catapulted them onto the national map. “We get many offers, but we are choosy. We have also exported idols. Since the Raja is famous, we are asked to make similar idols. The Kamblis, who have their workshop in Chinchpokli, are also entrusted with decorating the Shirdi Sai Baba temple during Ramnavmi and Dassera.
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