Click to play videoMumbai: Pomp and gaiety, song and dance, colourful clothes and big smiles - all the makings of a Ganesh Chaturthi procession.
As thousands of Ganesh idols made their way to pandals (tents) all over Mumbai on Ganesh Chaturthi, this was one particular procession that evoked much interest.
A closer look, however, reveals something else. It was Mumbai's eunuch community making their way through the streets and bylanes of Navi Mumbai with their favourite deity.
The Bhavani Mata Mandir, situated in Koprigaon in Navi Mumbai, has been home to the eunuchs for over 24 years.
Every year, the eunuchs, who come from different religious communities, organise Ganeshotsava celebrations and gather to offer their prayers to Lord Ganesha.
"I'm a Muslim, but I'm also a devotee of Lord Ganesha and pray to him every year," a eunuch, Razia, reveals.
Just like the other Ganeshotsav mandals, the eunuchs too perform aarti (Hindu prayer ritual) twice a day and observe fast throughout the duration of Ganeshotsav and pray for better luck in their next life.
"We just want to be born normal in our next birth so that we too can have a good life," Pinky, another participant, says.
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