HYDERABAD: Bringing down the curtains on the 11-day Ganesh festivities, the centralised Ganesh idol immersion procession passed peacefully on Sunday amid tight security.Amid chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Moriya’ processions from various parts of the city joined the centralised procession which originated at Keshavgiri on the outskirts of the Old City to the Tank Bund in the heart of the city.Thousands of devotees marched to important junctions en route like Charminar, Moazzamjahi Market and to the Tank Bund and 20-odd other lakes and water bodies where Ganesh idols were immersed.By evening, over 15,000 idols have been immersed in the Hussainsagar, and Kukatpally, Durgam Cheruvu and Saroornagar tanks.The city wore a festive look amid drum beats and chants of ‘Ganapati bappa moriya’ as thousands of idols of various shapes and sizes were being brought to the Hussainsagar lake and youth, old, women and men participating in the annual festivity.The procession had a taste of patriotism also with the youth waving tri-colours and raising slogans of Vandemataram.The centralised procession had a delayed start with the famous Balapur Ganesh itself starting its journey well behind schedule.The Balapur Laddu was auctioned for Rs. 5.45 lakh this year.The Balapur Ganesh was joined by other idols from various parts of the old city areas like Barkas, Chandrayangutta, Falaknuma, Shalibanda, Charminar, Patherghatti, Afzalgunj and also Mozamjahi Market, Abids and Basheerbagh. Till evening just a few number of idols crossed the historice Charminar.It was only around 2.30 p.m that idols started arriving from lanes and bylanes at Charminar.Soon, idols from all sides— Shalibanda, Laad Bazar and Panjesha _ reached Charminar, adding colour and grandeur to the main procession. The procession was stopped for sometime in the afternoon and evening in view of the prayers at Mecca Masjid.About 30,000 security personnel, including paramilitary, were deployed in the massive security arrangements for the procession which covered a distance of about 20 km till the Hussainsagar. Though the police tried to ensure that the Ganesh idols move out of the Old City at the earliest, the procession went on till 8.30 pm in the night. “There was a problem with availability of cranes and vehicles to trasnport the idols in the South Zone (Old City) limits which caused the delay,” Hyderabad city police commissioner A K Khan said.The procession of Khairatabad Ganesh too got delayed and it is likely that the huge idol is likely to be immersed in the Hussainsagar only after 2 a.m. City police said the procession and immersion process, which went on at a snail’s pace in the day, picked up by night.Added to the thousands of idols installed in the city, several idols from the Cyberabad limits and even in Mahabobnagar district were brought to the city, police said.A festive mood prevailed in the twin cities with slogan-shouting youth wearing saffron scarves marching towards the lake with the Ganesh idols for immersion. Saffron flags and bandanas, sprinkling of ‘gulal’, pulsating drum beats and trucks carrying Ganesha idols of various sizes enlivened the atmosphere.Colours were sprinkled liberally and the procession was stopped at several places to allow the young revellers indulge in boisterous dancing.Welcome arches and pandals were set up at various places as the leaders welcomed the procession. Home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy addressed the gathering from the welcome stage set up by Ganesh procession organisers at Charminar.She stressed the need to maintain peace and communal harmony.Minister D.Nagender, mayor Kartika Reddy and several BJP leaders including B Dattatreya and A Narendra hailed the devotees.Over two dozen huge cranes were deployed to immerse big idols in the Hussainsagar.The GHMC put in service over 2,500 personnel to keep the streets clean and 92 swimmers to save people from any accidental drowning. The APSRTC operated special buses and the Railways additional MMTS trains.
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