An estimated 40,000 idols have been exported to various countries where Maharashtrian expats celebrate the festival, and around 10,000 to Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad.
With people from different communities enthusiastically taking part in the celebrations, Ganeshotsav is no longer confined to any particular community but has attained the status of a 'state festival', Dahibhavkar added.
As in the past, the various public marquees have topical themes highlighting the recent political changes, the threat of Ebola, saving the girl child, protesting against rape and crime, and inflation.
Besides Mumbai, some of the most opulent celebrations are witnessed in Pune, including the famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganeshotsav, and the Konkan region, considered the bastion of the celebrations.
In the Konkan comprising Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, thousands of tiny villages and hamlets have a magical ambience with lights and music and round-the-clock festivities, though with modest budgets.
As in the past, the Mumbai Police will be on 24-hour duty with the support of other state security agencies, supplemented by the private security arrangements at various mandals, modern gadgets and dog squads, random checks and an army of over 200,000 volunteers, during the next 11 days, Dahibhavkar said.
At least 200 'mega-crowd' spots -- like the Lalbaugcha Raja where around 1.25 million devotees are expected round-the-clock -- and some others like the GSB Seva Mandal's 70-kg five-feet tall gold idol in Sion, Khetwadi 12th Lane, Ganesh Gully, Fort Vibhag, will remain on the radar of the security agencies.
Over the next few days, nearly 10 million people will pour on to Mumbai's roads for 'darshan', including lakhs of domestic and foreign tourists arriving to savour the flavour of the Ganeshotsav season.
This year, a vast majority of the big mandals have restricted the height of Ganesh idols to 18 feet, down from 32-feet in the past.
"Around a handful of them are still large, upto 25 feet or so, we shall try to convince them to adhere to the standard norms in overall public interest," Dahibhavkar explained.
Star power will also be at play during the Ganeshotsav with celebrations at the homes of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda, Jeetendra, Nana Patekar, the Kapoor clan of Shashi, Randhir and Rishi, Sachin Pilgaonkar, industrialists, politicians and other celebrities worshipping at home.
Many celebrities will also make 'guest appearances' at various marquees to enliven the celebrations.
And with a heavy heart, people will start bidding a tearful adieu to their beloved Lord Ganesh in phases from Saturday with colourful immersion rites at beaches, creeks, lakes, artificial ponds, wells and other venues.
