Devotees express displeasure over immersion of Ganesh idols in Godavari at Gudem

Ganesh idol immersion for devotees in Mancherial and surrounding villages will be shifted to Gudem this year due to a lack of water in the Godavari near Indaram. Devotees have expressed displeasure over the additional travel distance ahead of September 25

Mancherial: Devotees will have to immerse Ganesh idols in the Godavari river at Gudem village, about 34 km from Mancherial town, this year due to a lack of water in the river near Indaram village. Around 2,800 Ganesh idols have been installed across the district this year, of which approximately 500 are in Mancherial town and surrounding villages. The idols were earlier being immersed in local irrigation tanks and the Godavari river on the outskirts of Indaram village.

The police have advised devotees to immerse the idols in the Godavari at Gudem for the first time. They will now have to travel twice the distance they used to cover earlier. Devotees expressed displeasure over the police suggestion and wanted them to review the decision and identify alternative immersion spots ahead of the immersion scheduled for September 25.

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The police said the immersion would be carried out at Gudem as the river had gone dry near Indaram. They said expert divers would be kept ready at the spot to prevent accidental drowning incidents. They also requested organisers not to allow children and elderly people to take part in the idol immersions.

Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements were being made for the smooth immersion of idols at nearby irrigation tanks in Bellampalli, Chennur, Mandamarri and Thandur towns. The idols had already been geo-tagged. The height of electric lines had been increased, and the immersion spots were being illuminated.