Hyderabad: Thousands of devotees filled the streets on Tuesday to say an emotional goodbye to Lord Ganesha. The atmosphere was lively with the sounds of drums, showers of flowers and colors, and chants of “Ganapati Bappa Morya” and “Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai.”
This year, the arrangements were well-organized, thanks to the efforts of the new Police Commissioner, C V Anand, and his team. Everything went smoothly, with perfect coordination between different departments like the GHMC, NDRF, and others. The immersion process followed the planned schedule peacefully.
The famous ‘Shobha Yatra’ also took place without any issues. The 70-feet tall Ganesha idol was immersed at 1:40 PM. Organizers began dismantling the idol at Khairtabad on Monday night, and the final puja was performed on Tuesday morning. Hundreds of vehicles, decorated with flowers, were part of the procession, with drummers and DJs adding to the festivities.
Many devotees carried the idols in trucks, while others tied them to the rooftops of their cars. People of all ages, especially children, took part in the yatra with great devotion.
The main procession in the Old City started from Balapur, passing through Charminar and Mozamjahi Market. Several Ganesha idols from different areas like Balapur, Chandrayangutta, Lal Darwaza, and Begum Bazar joined the procession.
Major roads leading to the immersion points, like Tank Bund and other lakes, were under tight police surveillance. Police teams patrolled the Hussain Sagar area in boats, while NDRF and GHMC staff began cleaning up as soon as the idols were immersed. The famous ‘Pahelwan Ganesh,’ also known as ‘Begum Bazar-ka-Raja,’ attracted large crowds. Over 25,000 police officers, along with RPF, CRPF, RAF, and other personnel, were deployed to ensure security.
Immersion Ponds:
To facilitate the immersion of Ganesh idols, around 17 cranes were arranged. A total of 73 artificial ponds, including 27 baby ponds, 24 portable ponds, and 22 excavated ponds, were set up across Greater Hyderabad. Additionally, 468 cranes were stationed for the immersion process.
Laddu Auctions:
This year saw record-breaking prices for laddu auctions. The highest bid was at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Sun City, Bandlaguda, where a laddu was auctioned for ₹1.87 crore. Meanwhile, the famous Balapur Ganesh laddu was sold for ₹30.01 lakh.
