During the Ganesh festival, the pride of place is occupied by the Lalbaugcha Raja (King of Lalbaug) Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, one of the biggest, most revered and among the oldest Ganesh associations in the city, in south-central Mumbai.

Security concerns are a priority for this association.

'We do not put up thematic displays here. But we have taken very high security precautions for the 15 million devotees expected from Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra during the 10-days,' said association president Satish Khankar.

The association's 2,500-strong force of volunteers is being helped by Mumbai Police to safeguard the venue from any potential threats. There are hand-held and door frame metal detectors and walkie-talkie sets to send and receive alerts, Khankar said.

Lalbaugcha Raja attracts an average 1.25 million devotees each day and the crowds swell during weekends, Gauri pooja and on the immersion day.

On its part, the Mumbai police have taken precautions to safeguard the Ganesh festival all over the city, an official said.

Wireless vans with GPS, CCTVs, metal detectors, high-speed internet, personnel of Mumbai POlice, State Reserve Police Force and Riot Protection Force will be deployed at several parts of the city in the next 10 days, he said.

Bomb detection squad and dog squads will also be on alert, he added.

Apart from the huge marquees and the estimated 100,000 idols in households, thousands of villages in the entire Konkan region comprising Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg also have their own big and small idols of Lord Ganesh.