Pandya Store actress Simran Budharup recently shared a troubling incident that occurred during her visit to Lalbaugcha Raja, a popular Ganesh Chaturthi pandal in Mumbai. Accompanied by her mother, Budharup sought blessings at the revered shrine but was met with a distressing experience that she has since brought to light.
During their visit, Budharup’s mother attempted to take a photograph while standing in the queue. As it was Simran’s turn for darshan, her mother, who was in line behind her, clicked a picture. In response, a staff member abruptly snatched her mother’s phone. When Simran’s mother tried to retrieve her phone, she was pushed aside by the staff.
Witnessing this, Simran Budharup intervened, only to be confronted with rough behavior from the bouncers assigned to manage the crowd. The situation escalated further when Budharup began recording the incident. In an attempt to cover up their actions, the staff tried to snatch her phone as well.
In a video shared by Simran on social media, she can be heard shouting, “Mat Karo! Kya kar rahe ho aap?” (Don’t do this! What are you doing?). The situation only began to deescalate when the staff recognized Budharup’s celebrity status and backed off.
Describing her experience on social media, Budharup expressed her disappointment and frustration. She stated, “Today, I visited Lalbagh Cha Raja with my mother to seek blessings, but our experience was marred by the unacceptable behavior of the staff. A man from the organization snatched my mother’s phone while she was clicking the picture (she was in the queue behind me, not that she was taking any extra time as it was my turn for the Darshan), and when she tried to retrieve it, he pushed her. I intervened, and the bouncers rough-handled me. When I started recording this behavior of them, they tried snatching my phone too.”
“Today, I visited Lalbagh Cha Raja with my mother to seek blessings, but our experience was marred by the unacceptable behavior of the staff. A man from the organization snatched my mother’s phone while she was clicking the picture (she was in the queue behind me, not that she was taking any extra time as it was my turn for the Darshan), and when she tried to retrieve it, he pushed her. I intervened, and the bouncers rough-handled me. When I started recording this behavior of them, they tried snatching my phone too (it’s in this video where I am yelling “Mat Karo! Kya Kar Rahe ho aap”). It was only when they discovered I’m an actor that they backed off.
This incident highlights the need for awareness and accountability. People visit such places with good intentions, seeking positivity and blessings. Instead, we were met with aggression and disrespect. I understand that managing crowds is challenging, but it’s the staff’s responsibility to maintain order without misbehaving or harming devotees.
I’m sharing this to bring attention to the issue and hope it serves as a wake-up call for event organizers and staff to treat visitors with dignity and respect. Let’s work together to create a safer, more positive environment for everyone. #LalbaghChaRaja #RespectForDevotees #Accountability”
Budharup emphasized that such visits are meant to be positive experiences filled with blessings and good intentions, not ones marked by mistreatment. She acknowledged the challenges of managing large crowds during festivals but stressed that this should never justify aggressive behavior towards devotees.
Her account aims to shed light on the disrespect she and her mother faced, urging event organizers to ensure that their staff members treat visitors with kindness and dignity. Simran Budharup’s hope is that her experience will prompt necessary changes in the management of such events, fostering a more positive and respectful environment for all attendees.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of treating every visitor with respect and consideration, particularly in places of worship and public gatherings.
source – timesofindia