Hyderabad gears up for grand Ganesh idol immersion

Hyderabad is all set for the grand Ganesh idol immersion on Saturday with 1.4 lakh idols to be immersed at Hussain Sagar and other lakes. The Khairatabad Ganesh will be immersed with the help of the Bahubali crane

Hyderabad: The stage is set to bid goodbye to Lord Ganesha one last time this year, as arrangements are in place to conduct the immersion of nearly 1.4 lakh idols in Greater Hyderabad on Saturday.

Apart from Hussain Sagar Lake, the Ganesh idol immersion will take place at 20 major lakes and 72 specially created artificial ponds to ease traffic congestion and reduce pressure on natural water bodies.

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A Bahubali crane has already arrived at Hussain Sagar Lake, which will be used for the immersion of the 69-feet tall, renowned Khairatabad Ganesh idol.

Khairatabad Ganesh

After a special pooja at the pandal, the Khairatabad Ganesh idol will be shifted by 6 am on Saturday. The Shobha Yatra will start at 8 am and pass through Telephone Bhavan (Lakdikapul), Telugu Talli Flyover (below), Secretariat and NTR Gardens, with thousands of devotees, cultural troupes and traditional drum beats accompanying the procession.

Balapur Ganesh procession

The Khairatabad Ganesh procession traditionally starts the day’s events, with the Balapur Ganesh procession following soon after the auction of the famous ‘Bangaru laddu’ at the pandal at 10 am.

Sanitation and idol debris

About 15,000 sanitation workers have been deployed round the clock, along with 125 JCBs and 102 mini-tippers, for garbage clearance. Till now, over 10,500 metric tonnes of excess waste have been cleared and shifted to Jawahar Nagar processing units.

Elaborate measures are being taken by authorities, including the GHMC and the police department, to ensure the entire immersion route is smooth for all devotees.