Hyderabad: Undeterred by a steady drizzle from afternoon, Ganesh immersion processions across the city went on peacefully on Sunday, with the process continuing late into the night in many water bodies, including the Hussain Sagar.
Among the popular idols, the Balapur Ganesh crossed the Chandrayangutta junction by 2 pm and was immersed by evening in the Hussain Sagar. The mammoth Khairatabad Ganesh was immersed by 3.20 pm amidst much devotion and fanfare.
Earlier, chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ rented the air as the immersion processions began. The drizzle that started in the afternoon hours failed to deter the religious fervour and spirit of the processions.
Scores of devotees thronged artificial ponds, water bodies and city lakes including the Hussain Sagar, Saroornagar and Pragathi Nagar.
Along the procession route, organisers and people were welcomed by NGOs and owners of commercial establishments. The latter raised temporary shelters along the procession route and showered flower petals on the idols. Snacks, buttermilk, water and other refreshments were also served by them.
Meanwhile, at major immersion points including Hussain Sagar and Saroornagar, elaborate arrangements were made by line departments and designated parking areas were marked. Apart from the organisers of big Ganesh pandals who headed to city lakes, several families too turned up with smaller idols. They placed the Ganesh idols on the hood of the car and were seen dancing to the brass band and folk songs.
While some families headed to lakes, others immersed the idols in artificial ponds. Near Liberty Circle, around 10 members of the same family, wearing customised white T-shirts were seen dancing to folk songs around their Ganesh idol. Many pandal organizers too were seen wearing identical clothes.
While the celebrations were under way, offbeat Ganesh idols stole the show in parts of the city. A set of 21 idols on a train, a Ganesh idol made up of coins, an idol illuminated with different colours were some of the idols seen.
“I hail from Khammam and the ambience here is amazing. The arrangements including security, crowd management, sanitation, supply of drinking water are laudable,” said K Vikram, a marketing executive working in Hyderabad. M Shiva, a student, said that standing or seating arrangements at multiple locations should be built, so that people can have a good view of the idols and the immersions.
As part of the arrangements, an exclusive command control room was also set up on NTR Marg. Officials were announcing the names of the people who were lost in the crowd, asking them to meet relatives waiting at the control room.
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