Mumbai: Continuing a tradition that spans over a century, the Sandal ceremony at Rahman Shah Baba Dargah in Dongri was held with deep reverence and spiritual fervour. The event, observed annually, saw the presence of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, who presented the ceremonial chadar (sandal cloth) at the revered shrine.

The ritual, performed every year, symbolises not just faith but the enduring bond between the city’s civic guardians and its diverse communities.

The Sandal ceremony at the Rahman Shah Baba Dargah holds immense spiritual significance for devotees across Mumbai and beyond. The dargah, dedicated to Hazrat Abdul Rehman Shah Baba, is considered a sacred space for people of all faiths who seek blessings and inner peace.

Each year, the offering of the chadar by senior police officials, including the ACP, DCP, and Additional Commissioner, reinforces the message of peace, unity, and mutual respect. It stands as a reminder that Mumbai’s strength lies in its cultural diversity and spirit of togetherness.

Given the large crowds that throng the dargah during the Sandal procession, Mumbai Police take extensive measures to ensure the safety of all attendees. Detailed planning goes into traffic control, security deployment, and crowd management, with officers stationed around the clock.

CCTV cameras are strategically installed to monitor the surroundings and prevent any disruptions or untoward incidents. These precautions reflect the department’s commitment to ensuring that the event proceeds peacefully, while also safeguarding devotees from petty theft or disorderly conduct.

The dargah trustees actively cooperate with the authorities, following guidelines that promote discipline and devotion. This includes the prohibition of DJs and loud music, preserving the sanctity and spiritual essence of the occasion.

For countless followers, Hazrat Rahman Shah Baba is not merely a saint but a spiritual guide whose blessings are believed to bring relief, prosperity, and hope. The gathering reflects how the dargah continues to serve as a beacon of faith and emotional strength for the community.

Beyond its religious significance, the Sandal ceremony embodies Mumbai’s inclusive ethos, where people from diverse backgrounds come together in respect and celebration. The annual offering led by Commissioner Bharti and his team is not just a mark of devotion but a gesture of solidarity, echoing the city’s timeless message of unity in diversity.

This long-standing tradition continues to thrive because of the combined efforts of devotees, civic authorities, and law enforcement, making it a model of how faith and governance can coexist harmoniously.

As Mumbai grows and evolves, events like the Rahman Shah Baba Sandal remain powerful reminders of what binds the city together — faith, peace, and brotherhood. The ritual endures not merely as a religious observance, but as a living tradition that reinforces social harmony and collective well-being year after year.

Mumbai: Despite an order from Bombay high court, thousands of illegal hoardings and banners continue to be put up all over the metropolis. This is in total contempt of the high court, but then the BMC is yet to view the issue seriously. The biggest culprits are politicians who have put up hoardings on the occassion of Diwali.

The visit of any politician also sees a rash of hoardings all over the city. Right in front of Mantralaya hoardings are routinely erected with the BMC remaining a silent spectator. The civic staff is highly reluctant to remove these hoardings and banners since they do not want to incur the wrath of the “netas.”

The BMC claims to have pulled down several hoardings and banners. Obviously the claims are not backed by ground reality since many of these hoardings continue to make the metropolis ugly.

As Mumbai glittered with Diwali lights last week, its streets also drowned under a flood of hoardings nearly 60% put up by political parties wishing citizens a “Happy Diwali.”

These banners occupied prime public spaces such as traffic junctions, flyovers, and building facades obstructing views, distracting motorists, and diminishing the city’s visual appeal. What should have showcased Mumbai’s festive charm instead exposed its chronic failure to curb illegal hoardings that deface the city year after year.

The highest concentration of hoardings was seen in areas such as Nariman Point, Fort, Churchgate, Colaba, Worli, Prabhadevi, Bandra, Santacruz, and Andheri.

Dhaval Shah, founder of the Lokhandwala-Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), said, “With the BMC elections approaching, both the number and size of hoardings have shot up. Not a single footpath or lamp post has been spared by advertisers. Adding to the nuisance are decorative arches installed by political parties during Ganeshotsav, which continue to remain till Diwali and beyond. These structures often damage vehicles. We raised the issue in a joint meeting with BMC’s K-West ward officials, but no action has been taken so far.”

Ravi Raja, former Opposition leader of the BMC and BJP leader, said, “Political parties have already instructed their workers not to put up hoardings. To resolve this issue, the BMC should designate specific zones for political hoardings, similar to hawker zones. Parties could be charged for these spaces, which would not only generate revenue for the BMC but also encourage discipline in displaying advertisements.”

However, a senior civic official said, “Our ward-level teams keep vigil and remove every illegal hoarding that appears. Unfortunately, new political banners and hoardings often go up overnight. We have instructed printers to obtain civic permission before producing advertisements for municipal roads or footpaths and have urged political parties to ensure their workers follow the rules. The idea of designated zones for political hoardings has also been discussed, but implementing it requires political will.”

Following the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that claimed 17 lives, the BMC drafted an “Outdoor Advertisement Display” policy in August 2024 to regulate hoardings, but it remains in limbo. Annually, the civic body removes 15,000–20,000 illegal hoardings, nearly half linked to political or festive messages, with numbers surging during elections and festivals.

The draft policy mandates written permission for all advertisements, and violators face penalties under Section 471 of the BMC Act, 1888, and the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, including up to three months’ imprisonment or a Rs. 2,000 fine. “The policy is in the final stage of approval,” said Anil Kate, Superintendent of the BMC’s License Department.

Mumbai: High-tech security cameras installed in a house at Sarvodaya Estate, Chembur, helped police catch a burglar red-handed in the early hours of October 26. The accused has been identified as Nikhil Anil Kamble, a resident of Vashinaka. The Chembur police have registered a case and arrested him.

According to the FIR, Ravindra Kashinath Churi, 72, a retired employee of India Waterproofing Company, resides at Sarvodaya Estate with his wife Sushma, 66, and son Jay, 35. The family usually spends the day at their Sarvodaya Estate home but stays overnight at their residence in Ramkrishna Apartment, Postal Colony Road, Chembur.

For security, Churi had installed advanced CCTV cameras at his Sarvodaya Estate home. As usual, on the evening of October 25, around 6 p.m., the family locked the house and left for Ramkrishna Apartment. The next morning, at around 5:45 a.m., Jay received an alert on his mobile phone from the security system, indicating movement inside the house.

Upon checking the camera footage, Jay informed his parents that someone had broken into the house. Ravindra Churi and his son rushed to the spot and found the main door locked from both inside and outside. Upon inspection, they noticed that the kitchen window grill was partially broken and moved aside, confirming that a burglar was inside.

Jay immediately called the police helpline (100). Acting swiftly, a Chembur police team reached the scene and, with assistance from the fire brigade, broke open the door. Inside, they found Nikhil Kamble hiding and caught him red-handed.

Although no valuables were found in Kamble’s possession, the house was ransacked. The police took him into custody and registered an FIR under Sections 331(4) and 62 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Act, based on Ravindra Churi’s complaint, charging Kamble with breaking the window grill and attempting burglary.

The Chembur police are conducting further investigation into the case.