Heavy rain no deterrent for devotees

KALYAN: Despite heavy rains, devotees lined up outside various immersion points in city to bid farewell to their beloved lord Ganesha. Idols of various shapes and sizes were lined up for immersion.

Around 9,450 household and 173 public Ganpati idols were immersed on the 11th day of the festival across various sites in the city. Volunteers from different NGOs from across the city were present at the site to help devotees have a hassle-free immersion.

Both household and public idols were immersed across 52 ponds in the city.

Seven artificial ponds were erected at Dombivli and three in Kalyan, which received overwhelming response from the devotees.

CCTV cameras were installed at Durgadi Ganesh Ghat, Durgamata Chowk. Durgadi Ganesh Mandir, Sahjanand Chowk, Chirag hotel and at Retibunder Ganesh Ghat in Dombivli. A total of 45 generators were made available across immersion sites in the city including fire brigade vehicles.

Police officers were deployed at the sites including volunteers from NGOs and self-help groups.

The eco-friendly Ganpati celebration received a positive response as many people were seen immersing idol in artificial ponds erected for the purpose. The volunteers from Paryavaran Dakshta Manch (PDM) who were present at the Ganesh Ghat in Durgadi collected 22 tonnes of floral waste by the end of ten days of festival which would be later converted into bio manure used by people and corporation later on.

“We were present at the immersion site for the 10-day festival and while asking people to drop floral waste in Nirmalya kalash we even appealed to celebrate eco-friendly ganpati festival every year,” said the volunteers from Paryavaran Dakshta Manch.

“The last immersion was peaceful as the immersions continued till morning. people

were seen cleaning the ghats after the immersion was done and many volunteers present at the site picked up the waste

right then and dropped in dustbin maintaining cleanliness,” said Prasad Thakur, KDMC public relations officer.

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY A Ganesh idol of Ambika Vishwast Mandal being taken for immersion at an artificial lake at Ulhasnagar.