Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Bhopal’s Enduring Ganesh Worship Spans Ancient Shrines And Public Festivals
Bhopal has celebrated Lord Ganesha for many generations.
The city has several old Ganesha shrines and idols.
One famous temple is in Sehore, where people believe the idol appeared on its own.
Another very old idol is carved into a cave at Udayagiri Hills near Vidisha.
Bhopal’s first large public Ganesh celebration was held in 1947.
Before then, families mostly celebrated the festival privately.
Traders and freedom fighters helped bring the festival into public squares.
Today, many people worship an idol called Bhopal Ke Raja.
The idols are immersed in the water twice during the celebrations.
Bhopal holds Ganesh idol immersions twice, on Dol Gyaras and Anant Chaturdashi.
The city’s first public Ganesh worship took place at Peepal Chowk on September 18, 1947.
The Chintamani Ganesha temple in Sehore is linked by legend to King Vikramaditya.
A rock-cut Ganesha idol at Udayagiri Hills in Vidisha dates to the Gupta Empire and 401 CE.
Bhopal’s Bhopal Ke Raja idol is decorated with over 100 kilograms of silver ornaments during the festival.
- Who
- Bhopal residents, local traders, freedom fighter Mohan Lal Singhal, devotees and artisans are associated with the celebrations.
- What
- The article traces Bhopal’s long history of Ganesha worship, ancient shrines and public Ganesh festivals.
- When
- The first public Ganesh worship in Bhopal was held on September 18, 1947; an Udayagiri inscription dates to 401 CE.
- Where
- Bhopal, including the Bhadbhada area and Upper Lake, as well as the Chintamani Ganesha temple in Sehore and Udayagiri Hills in Vidisha.
- Why
- Public celebrations were organized to bring people together, while devotees worship Ganesha as a remover of obstacles and protector of Bhopal’s waters.
- First public celebration
- September 18, 1947, at Peepal Chowk in Bhopal
- Public idol
- The first public Ganapati idol was installed at Peepal Chowk
- Ancient idol
- The Ganesha idol at Cave Number Six of Udayagiri Hills dates to the Gupta Empire
- Historical date
- An inscription at Udayagiri dates the site to 401 CE during Chandragupta II’s reign
- Festival immersions
- Bhopal conducts idol immersions on both Dol Gyaras and Anant Chaturdashi
- Bhopal Ke Raja
- The idol is decorated with more than 100 kilograms of silver ornaments
- Major immersion site
- Thousands gather on the banks of the Upper Lake for immersion rituals