If Mumbai had to choose one place where the whole city prays, it would be Siddhivinayak. Film stars and fishermen, students before exams and grandparents before a hospital visit all stand in the same queue at Prabhadevi to see the black-stone Ganesha who is believed to grant every sincere wish.
History of Siddhivinayak Temple
The temple was consecrated on 19 November 1801. It was built by a contractor named Laxman Vithu Patil, and paid for by Deubai Patil, a devotee from the Agri community who had no children of her own. She wished that Ganesha, through this temple, would bless other childless women with children, and that’s still one of the most common prayers heard here.
For more than a century it was a small brick shrine with a dome. As its fame grew, the temple was rebuilt in the 1990s into the six-storey structure you see today, with its gold-plated inner dome and a sanctum whose doors are carved with the eight forms of Ganesha (Ashtavinayak).
The idol
The deity is carved from a single black stone, about 2.5 feet tall, with four arms holding a lotus, an axe, a bowl of modaks and a string of beads. His trunk turns to the right, a rare and powerful form called Siddhi Vinayak, which gives the temple its name. On either side stand Riddhi and Siddhi, the goddesses of prosperity and fulfilment. A small snake around his belly and a third eye on his forehead, like his father Shiva’s, complete the form.
Darshan tips
- Queues: there is a general queue, a faster paid queue and a separate queue for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees. Ask the staff at the gate.
- What to carry: flowers, durva grass and modak can be bought at shops outside. Large bags are not allowed; keep belongings minimal.
- Tuesdays: Mumbaikars walk to the temple through the night before Tuesday. It is a beautiful sight, but it’s very crowded, and elderly devotees are better off going on a weekday.
- Sankashti Chaturthi evenings and the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi are also extremely busy.
Aarti at Siddhivinayak
Kakad (morning) aarti, madhyahna (midday) naivedya and aarti, and evening and night aartis are performed every day. At home, you can join in with Ganesh Ji Ki Aarti: Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva. Learn more about Lord Ganesha and his symbols.
Nearby
Mahalakshmi Temple at Breach Candy, the Babulnath Shiva Temple at Girgaon and the Haji Ali causeway are a short taxi ride away. The Dadar flower market near the station is worth a visit for its colour.
Shree Siddhivinayak Temple: common questions
What are the Siddhivinayak Temple timings?
On most days the temple is open from around 5:30 AM to about 10 PM. On Tuesdays, Ganesha's special day, it opens earlier (well before dawn) and stays open late. Timings change on festivals, so check the official website before you go.
Why is Siddhivinayak's trunk turned to the right?
A Ganesha idol whose trunk turns to the right (Siddhi Vinayak) is considered especially powerful and quick to grant wishes, but also demanding in the care and purity of his worship. That is why he is known as the Ganesha who fulfils prayers.
Which is the best day to visit Siddhivinayak Temple?
Tuesday is the most auspicious day and draws the largest crowds, sometimes lakhs of people. For a calm darshan, go early on a weekday morning (Wednesday to Friday).
Is there special darshan for senior citizens at Siddhivinayak?
Yes, the temple has a separate queue and arrangements for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees. Ask the temple staff at the entrance and carry an ID showing your age.
What prasad is available at Siddhivinayak Temple?
Modak and laddoo prasad can be bought from the temple's official counters inside the complex.