Known for their deep faith, discipline, and contribution to education, culture, and social service, the G.S.B. Community has strived to preserve rich traditions of worship and community welfare through the generations. The G.S.B. Temple Trust ensures that faith is practiced alongside compassion and community progress by striving to preserve our sacred temples and heritage, conducting various religious activities & contributing to cultural programs, and helping needy people for education and healthcare.
Through generations, Temple worship has played a major role in the lives of the G.S.B. people’s lives. The community has established and maintained several temples – across Mumbai – dedicated to various deities. The G.S.B. Temple Trust is responsible for preservation and management of several prominent temples and heritage properties across Mumbai, including the historic Shri Banganga Tank and Shri Walukeshwar Temple precinct; Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir and Shri Ramji Balaji Mandir at Bhuleshwar; the Shri Shitaladevi, Shri Shantadurga and other Temples in the Shitaladevi Temple Complex and Shri Murlidhar Mandir in Mahim. The Trust overseas daily rituals and festivals at these premises.
Some Saraswat Brahmin families, due to personal reasons, are unable to perform the worship of their family deities at their homes or temples (either in their native place or in Mumbai). For such families, the G.S.B. Temple Trust provides a facility to house their deities, where daily worship is performed on their behalf.
Pooja and Shri Ram Janmotsav is celebrated at Shri Balaji Ramji Mandir, Bhuleshwar and Shri Murlidhar Mandir, Mahim.
Abhishek is performed in the morning and there is a Palkhi Utsav in the evening at Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir.
Pooja and Shri Krishna Janmotsav is celebrated at Shri Murlidhar Mandir, Mahim and Shri Balaji Ramji Mandir, Bhuleshwar.
During the month of Shravan, special poojas are organized every Monday at Shri Walukeshwar Mandir, Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir and the Shiva Temples in the Shri Shitaladevi-Shantadurga Temple precincts.
Every year in the month of Ashwin and again in the month of Magh, the Shri Shitaladevi & Shri Shantadurga Temple precincts witness magnificent glory of Navratri Celebrations, with Poojas and Aartis and worshippers from around the city – especially ladies – coming to the Temple to make offerings to Shri Shitaladevi and Shri Devi Shantadurga. The atmosphere in the Temple Complex feels charged with glory of “Shakti” and divinity of “Bhakti”. Colourful stalls add to the festive atmosphere.
To thank the goddess for past abundance and pray for a prosperous, stable, and healthy coming year, every year Lakshmi Pujan is celebrated in the Shri Shitaladevi & Shri Shantadurga Temple precincts.
Annakut Pooja (also called Govardhan Pooja in some places), means "mountain of food" where devotees offer a grand feast of Chhappan Bhog to Lord Krishna. It is celebrated the day after Diwali in the month of Kartik to give thanks for nature's bounty and commemorate Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill. Annakut Pooja is celebrated every year at Shri Balaji-Ramji Mandir in Bhuleshwar and Shri Murlidhar Mandir in Mahim.
On the occasion of Tripurari Pournima Pooja and Abhishek are performed at Shri Walukeshwar Mandir and there is a grand Palkhi Utsav in the evening.
The Banganga Maha Aarti is a grand religious and cultural event held at the historic Banganga Teerth Kshetra in Walukeshwar, Mumbai. Organized annually by the Trust, the ceremony features Vedic chanting, thousands of diyas, and sacred mantras in reverence of the Banganga.
Abhishek is performed in the morning and there is a Palkhi Utsav in the evening at Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir.
On the occasion of Mahashivratri the Trust organises Pooja and Abhishek at Shri Walukeshwar Mandir, Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir and the Shiva Temples in the Shri Shitaladevi-Shantadurga precincts.
Dattatreya Jayanti commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya, the combined incarnation of the Hindu Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Special Pooja is performed in the Datta Mandir in Shri Shitaladevi Temple precincts.
While all the Panchamis are considered auspicious, five Maha-Panchami are celebrated with special Pooja and Aarti at the Shri Shantadurga Temple. These are:
The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees – who are members of the Goud Saraswat Brahman Community – each with a strong professional background and a zeal to work towards preservation of religious and cultural legacy, and charitable initiatives!
A Bachelor of Computer Science, Prasad Mahale has more than 30 years of professional experience in information technologies in the banking, retail and telecom domains; and worked with various national and international companies in India and Overseas.
Prasad has been involved with the Trust’s activities since 2020 in capacity of Managing Trustee. Now as the Chairman & Holding Trustee of the Trust, his Vision is to work towards restoring the various Temples and properties that are under the GSB Temple Trust, streamline various operating procedures and various charity activities of the Trust and aim at reinstating the glory of the Trust – as one of the oldest institutions of its kind.
An Urban Housing & Sanitation Activist, Architecture & Design Advisor and Project Management Consultant, Dinesh Prabhu has over a decade of grassroots and technical experience in the upliftment of urban underprivileged communities. He believes in combining on-ground mobilization with professional expertise in project planning, design optimization, and feasibility assessment to deliver inclusive, compliant, and commercially sustainable housing solutions.
Dinesh has been associated with the Trust activities since 2025 initially in capacity of Trustee. Now as Secretary & Holding Trustee, he is actively involved in updating the records and status of the Trust’s properties, reviewing the structural condition and possible solutions for refurbishment, redevelopment, restoration and conservation.
An Interior Designer and Space planner by profession, Amey Akerkar is committed to community service, creativity, and cultural preservation. He aims at combining artistic vision with practical knowledge of spatial planning, aesthetics, and functionality.
Amey has been associated with the Trust activities since 2022 initially in capacity of Trustee. Now as Treasurer & Holding Trustee, he is actively involved in the Trust’s activities collaborating to support various cultural, spiritual, and welfare initiatives.
A professional Chartered Engineer and Linguist, Litterateur, Journalist, Publisher, and Orator, Hemant Samant is associated with various activities across Education, Linguistics, Journalism and other Social Movements like Organ Donation and other social causes. He was conferred with "COVID Warrior" Honor by the Governor of Maharashtra on December 16, 2020, in recognition of dedicated service.
Hemant has been associated with the Trust since 2025, coordinating and contributing to the various social and humanitarian activities of the Trust and content planning for the Trust’s website and other promotional material.
A young and dynamic entrepreneur, Swanand Kamat has extensive experience spanning Logistics, Real Estate Finance, Construction, Redevelopment, Operations Monitoring, Governance, and Acquisitions. His professional journey reflects a strong commitment towards innovation, leadership development, and creating scalable business models.
Beyond business, Swanand is deeply committed to humanitarian service. He is the Founder & President of Sahayata Foundation, an organization established with the mission of empowering the underprivileged and supporting women and children in building a better future for themselves. He has been associated with the Trust since 2025, contributing his expertise towards overall activities of the Trust.
A Medical professional with over 10 years of experience in Clinical Medicine, Public Health and Healthcare Administration, Dr. Amey is currently serving as Bank Medical Officer at NABARD Headquarters. Earlier, he has also served as Medical Officer with Government of Maharashtra and an associate physician at Jupiter Hospital Thane.
Dr. Amey possesses immense experience in CSR-based healthcare and has led multiple public health initiatives including cataract surgery camps, paediatric surgery camps, dialysis centres, mobile medical units, Covid care centres and tribal welfare projects in Konkan and Maharashtra through CSR and community participation. He is also the Director of Tarpan Foundation and President of Nana Palkar Smruti Samiti. He has been associated with the Trust since 2026, coordinating and contributing towards various social activities of the Trust.
An Actor and Director by profession, Durgesh Akerkar has 27+ years of experience in Marathi theatre, film & TV. He has directed award-winning experimental plays 'Mastani' & 'Aadim' and commercial play 'Vasoochi Sasoo’.
Durgesh is currently the Secretary of Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya Thane; Chief Secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Natya Parishad Thane; and the Founder & Secretary, Swatantryaveer V.D. Savarkar Pratishthan. He has been associated with the Trust since 2026, supporting various activities.
An Architect by qualification, Partha Ajgaonkar has over 30 years of design and construction experience managing multiple projects and various delivery methods in India, United States, UAE, Qatar, Mexico and West Indies and diverse building types including Education, Healthcare, Residential, Public Buildings, Malls etc. He is currently, teaching full time at IES’s College of Architecture, as Program Chair for Masters of Architecture (Project Management) and his vision is to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge into education practice to create skilled, well-rounded and responsible design professionals.
Partha has been associated with the Trust since 2026, contributing his professional experience towards planning of some of the upcoming projects of the Trust.
The presence of Goud Saraswat Brahman (G.S.B.) community in Mumbai and their active involvement in boosting trade, commerce as well as religious and cultural legacy in the region can be traced back to more than 1500 years – during the rules of Shilahara Dynasty and then the Rajput Yadav Prince Bhimdev (Raja Bimb) who established his kingdom of Mahikawati (modern-day Mahim). They continued to dominate trade in the region through the late medieval / early modern era, and post the development of “Bombay” city by British Governor Gerald Aungier, they played leading role in the development of markets & trade in the city especially laying the first market of the city at Bhuleshwar and its surrounding markets. At the same time, they engaged in contributing financially and physically to preservation of temples and promotion of religious and cultural activities and charitable activities in the region.
In the year 1879, a group of dedicated and devoted personalities founded a Trust to manage the “Temples, Charitable Institutions and Funds of the Goud Saraswat Brahman Community of Mumbai” – which today is popularly known as the G.S.B. Temple Trust. The Trust was established with a mission to preserve sacred temples, promote cultural and spiritual heritage, and serve society through charitable work.
Over the past century, the Trust has grown into a pillar of faith and service for the G.S.B. community and beyond. It manages several prominent temples and heritage properties across Mumbai, including the historic Shri Banganga Tank and Shri Walukeshwar Temple precinct; Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir and Shri Ramji Balaji Mandir at Bhuleshwar; the Shri Shitaladevi, Shri Shantadurga and other Temples in the Shitaladevi Temple Complex and Shri Murlidhar Mandir in Mahim.
The G.S.B. Temple Trust envisions a world where tradition and progress grow together, where faith leads to positive action, and where service brings people closer. Our goal is to build a strong connection between the wisdom of the past and the needs of the present – preserving our sacred temples and heritage while helping people through education, healthcare and cultural programs.
We dream of making every temple under our care a living space filled with devotion, peace, and community spirit. A place where people of all ages can come together to pray, learn and celebrate the beauty of Indian culture. By caring for Mumbai’s spiritual landmarks like the Shri Banganga Tank and extending our efforts beyond temple walls, we hope to inspire kindness, unity and spiritual growth in society.
Through our work rooted in Dharma (righteousness) and Seva (selfless service), we aim to create a legacy of faith, compassion and togetherness for future generations. The Trust’s work extends beyond temple administration – it actively undertakes social welfare initiatives. Committed to integrity, inclusivity, and transparency, the GSB Temple Trust ensures that faith is practiced alongside compassion and community progress. Its ongoing efforts aim to preserve Mumbai’s sacred spaces while nurturing the values of unity, service, and spiritual enrichment.
This section is coming soon and will be updated shortly. We appreciate your patience and devotion.
This section is coming soon and will be updated shortly. We appreciate your patience and devotion.
On the occasion of Bhagwat Ekadashi (11th July 2026), the G.S.B. Temple Trust, along with the Nana Palkar Smriti Samiti and Shri Moreshwar Seva Sangh, organized a very unique event in Borivali – in which the 'Dabbewalas of Mumbai,' who are part of the Warkari tradition, were honoured. During this all-day event, the Dabbewalas received free medical check-ups and cancer screenings – funded through the Chief Minister's Assistance Fund – and conducted by a team of doctors from Mumbai's J.J. Hospital and Volunteers of the Cancer Patients Aid Association. Later, with reverence to Vitthal-Rakhumai of Pandharpur, a ceremony of 'Padya Puja' of each of these dabbewala brothers was conducted. Around 350 dabbewalas, and more than 350 devotees, attended this celebration. The entire atmosphere was filled with devotion and a spirit of service. On this occasion, the G.S.B. Temple Trust also distributed free Raincoat sets to the dabbawala brothers.
On the occasion of the “25th Saraswat Chaitanya Gaurav Sohala”, the G.S.B. Temple Trust was felicitated with this prestigious award by Saraswat Prakashan in recognition of its contributions towards religious and social initiatives of the community.
Every year, on the occasion of Tripurari Pournima, the G.S.B. Temple Trust organizes a grand Maha Aarti on the banks of the Banganga, modeled after the one held in Varanasi, with the intention of promoting spirituality and enhancing awareness about the importance of maintaining sanctity of the Kshetra.
