10.2 C
Madrid
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Devotees Bid Adieu to Lord Ganesh

To reduce the number of idol immersion in natural waterbodies the BMC had set up 152 artificial ponds in different parts of Mumbai

Must read

Raju Vernekar
Raju Vernekar
Raju Vermekar is a senior Mumbai-based journalist who have worked with many daily newspapers. Raju contributes on versatile topics.

INDIA. Mumbai: Thousands of devotees converged on sea-fronts and at artificial ponds to immerse their Ganesh idols on the one-half day of the 11 days long Ganesh festival in Maharashtra, including Mumbai on Thursday.

Mostly the household idols were immersed on Thursday, accompanied by the beating of dhol even as “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangalmurti Morya (come forward and bless us)” rent the air.

- Advertisement -
The devotees engaged in religious rituals before immersion of their Ganesh idols at the artificial pond at Swami Samarth Nagar, Andheri. (Inset): Former BJP Corporator Yogiraj Dabhadkar and others. Photo Credit: Raju Vernekar

To reduce the number of idol immersion in natural waterbodies, including Gigaum Chowpatty, Juhu Beach, Versova, and other places, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had set up 152 artificial ponds in different parts of Mumbai, including public gardens, and had appealed to devotees to immerse their idols there. The BMC had also arranged for booking time slots at preferred immersion spots.

In Andheri at Swami Samarth Nagar in North West Mumbai, the heavy crowd of devotees, including women and senior citizens, participated in immersion. Former BJP Corporator Yogiraj Dabhadkar and BMC’s K West ward staff supervised the immersion at the artificial pond.

- Advertisement -

Bollywood celebrities also participated in immersion. They included Salman Khan, his sister Arpita and her husband, Ayush Sharma. Debina Bonnerjee and Gurmeet Choudhary said goodbye to Ganesh after performing an aarti. Actor Raqesh Bapat who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, had made the idol of the lord Ganesh himself. 

In neighbouring Thane, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had made arrangements for immersion at 20 points. The largest crowd was seen at Masunda Lake.

- Advertisement -

Besides setting up the artificial ponds, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had arranged for mobile immersion vans to facilitate the immersion of idols. The immersion also took place at the Mutha river, at the Nene ghat near Omkareshwar bridge and Sarasbaug canal. However, there have been complaints about unclean ghats at the Mutha river. Besides, volunteers of PMC were reported missing to take our idols and immerse in the river at the Nene ghat near Omkareshwar bridge.

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had arranged 60 artificial ponds and 55 collection centres for Ganesh idol immersion in Nashik city. The NMC had also tied up with 12 NGOs in the city to create awareness for the eco-friendly Ganesh festival.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation had arranged for immersion at 350 artificial tanks. The idols were also immersed at Phutala lake, Naik lake, Kalmana lake, Sakkardara, Koradi, Kamathi and Kanhan, and other places. The police officers were deployed throughout the state to maintain law and order.

Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi, the Elephant-Headed God’s Festival Kicks Off across India

Author

  • Raju Vernekar

    Raju Vermekar is a senior Mumbai-based journalist who have worked with many daily newspapers. Raju contributes on versatile topics.

- Advertisement -

Archives

spot_img

Trending Today