Mumbai: Thousands of Ganapati idols were taken from their pandals and carried by the organisors to the sea for immersion in Mumbai on Sunday.
September 14 was the day of Anant Chaturdashi and therefore the day for immersion for the idols installed about ten days ago on Ganesh Chaturthi.
The city was at its colourful best and people poured out of their homes in hordes to bid adieu to Lord Ganapati, their favourite elephant-headed god.
The serial blasts in Delhi had failed to dampen the spirits of Mumbaikars as people swarmed onto the streets dancing and rejoicing.
Even rains failed to deter the faithful who thronged seafronts to watch the grand finale.
Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed all along the route of immersion processions in the metropolis.
In a tragic accident, three people have been injured after a crane brought in to assist immersion processes on the Girgaum Chowpatty, overturned. The three people have been admitted to the Jaslok hospital.
In Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra, religious fervour and traditional gaiety marked the festivities.
Over 2,000 Ganesh idols were immersed in Hussainsagar lake in Hyderabad where an elaborate security cover was thrown around the city in the aftermath of terror strikes in Delhi.
Chanting slogans and beating drums, devotees carried the idols on decorated trucks to the historic lake.
Over 26,000 police and para-military personnel were deployed to ensure peace and tranquility during the immersion.
The immersions in Mumbai are expected to go on till the early hours of Monday. The ten-day-long festivities end on Sunday and the fifteen day period of 'pitru-paksh', the period of remembering the dead ancestors begins.
This also marks the beginning of a fortnight of austerity for the majority Hindus who will abstain from any mega launches, celebrations and big buys during the period.
(With inputs from PTI)
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