Immersion ends with fewer idols, crowding
Around 30,000 idols immersed within the city limits
The 11-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi culminated on Tuesday with immersion of idols belonging to the elephant-headed God at various designated spots in the twin cities. Around
30,000 idols were immersed within the core city an an equal number on the city outskirts.
Tuesday was the 41st time that idols were immersed through a centralised procession in the twin cities. The event had begun in 1980 with just
1,500 idols installed in various parts of the city.
Despite the threat of Covid-19 infection, thousands of devotees joined the Khairatabad Ganesh procession, which began at 11.45 am. The idol was immersed in the Tank Bund Lake around 5 pm. The Balapur Ganesh procession began early at 12.0 pm under police escort. As the size of idols had decreased this year, the statues were mostly carried in autos and trucks. This ensured timely immersion of idols.
Several devotees restricted themselves to their homes due to Covid-19 outbreak. The number of notified idols came down from 1.30 lakh last year to about 50,000 in the core city. Lack of coordination between Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, police and pandal organisers, however, led to bumpy ride for Ganesh. Many roads were either dug up or severely damaged. For instance, the part of the road at Moazzam Jahi Market had been dug, which resulted in traffic jams there.
Unlike like in the past, the state government did not declare a holiday on Tuesday. Still, enthusiastic commuters thronged to see the Khairatabad and other Ganeshas in the procession. Thousands had assembled along Telephone Bhavan-SecretariatNTR Marg to watch the idols being taken out in the procession. Although GHMC notified 32 lakes for immersion, cranes were deployed only at three locations – Hussainsagar, Saroornagar and IDL Lake in Kukatpally. After a long time, authorities did not barricade areas around the Hussainsagar. As a result, enthusiastic citizens leaned dangerously over the bund to click selfies. Lack of barricading also helped several hawkers who came to sell eatables. Many of them were not wearing masks.
Office-bearers of Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) were disappointed with the arrangements made for immersion. BGUS secretary Ravinuthala Shashidhar said there were several lacunae in the arrangements. It was only due to God's grace that the immersion ended on a peaceful note. Following the convention, idols of the south zone were immersed first followed by those of other areas, with immersion going on till late in the night.