Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was spotted at Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, welcoming Lord Ganesha with her customary devotion during the ongoing Ganeshotsav celebrations. Known for her regular visits
to the famous Sarvajanik Ganpati pandal, Shilpa made her way to the venue this season to offer prayers and seek blessings from Bappa.
In a video shared by Instant Bollywood, the actress was seen dressed in a traditional saree, escorted inside with the help of security and volunteers. She offered dakshina at the donation box and sought a flower from the deity’s feet as a token of blessings. Following her darshan, Shilpa exited through a VVIP route, accompanied by volunteers and security personnel.
Every year, millions of devotees, from politicians to celebrities, flock to Lalbaugcha Raja to witness the grandeur of Ganeshotsav, celebrating the festival with immense enthusiasm and reverence.
While the actress’s devotion stood out, what caught people’s attention online was something else entirely.
Internet Slams Special Treatment For Celebs
The video sparked debate on social media, with many pointing out how celebrities and politicians are offered a separate VVIP treatment while common devotees struggle in long queues. One user wrote, “Why are celebrities given so much importance when common people can’t even reach Bappa because of the rush? Isn’t God equal for all?”
Another comment read, “The same volunteers who push and manhandle the public are now seen smiling and waving to her. So unfair.” A third user added, “Lady guards who shove devotees are now politely escorting the celebrity. This is the difference.”
Some even went as far as saying, “Sorry, but Lalbaugcha Raja is only for celebrities, not the public.”
Every Year, The Same Thing
This is not the first time; earlier in the time of Ganapati Puja, the internet had slammed the organisers for discriminating between VVIP celebs like Shilpa Shetty, who was given more than 2 minutes to darshan, even as hundreds of common folks were pushed and dragged with mere seconds to seek blessings.
This is not the first time the Internet has raised its voice against this system. In previous years, too, several such instances have gone viral where VVIPs like Shilpa Shetty, Anil Kapoor and others were given several minutes for darshan in peace, while ordinary devotees were pushed and rushed out within seconds.
Back in 2023, one X (formerly Twitter) user had shared a video showing Shilpa Shetty performing puja in calm and comfort in the VVIP row while common people were dragged and jostled.
The X user wrote, “One foot of Ganesha, reserved for VVIP Shilpa Shetty for 2.20 min while 220 other devotees are pushed, dragged so that they don’t spend more than a second on the another foot.” He also added, “VVIP culture in temples should be called out in every way. YouTube channel of Lalbaugcha Raja of Mumbai is full of such videos. You can see how VVIPs are treated and how common devotees are treated in the same video. Aren’t all equal before god? Privilege hai ki jaati nahi.”
He further wrote in the comment, “Batao do pairon ke beech mein deewar bana di darm ka dandha karne waalon ne. Ek pair VVIP logon ke liye aur ek pair aam public ke liye.
One foot of Ganesha, reserved for VVIP Shilpa Shetty for 2.20 min while 220 other devotees are pushed, dragged so that they don't spend more than a second on the another foot. https://t.co/sfI5KFsrGk
— Kapil (@kapsology) September 24, 2023
Another user had described the situation as “Bhakti ka bazaar” while one more added, “Lalbaugcha Raja will only bless people with heavy bank balances, not EMI-paying working-class devotees.”
Bhakti ka bajar .. money matters for sake of God
.— Unknown.92 (@ultrapromax100) September 24, 2023
The anger is not only about unequal access but about how faith itself gets commercialised and turned into privilege. As one user summed it up, “This is the price we pay for being Aam Aadmi.”
This is very disappointing, but I have seen it at almost every religious place. And at that time, I just felt very angry, but can't help. That's the price we pay for being Aam Aadmi.
— Ekta Sinha (@Ekta_muz) September 24, 2023
Do you think God would ever discriminate between power, status, or bank balance or is this purely the doing of people who create these divides?
