Mumbai, Ganesh idol immersion processions began across Mumbai on Friday morning amid chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha, as devotees prepared to bid an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesha on the final day of the festival.
A large number of devotees, including women and children, gathered along roads in the Lalbaug area to watch the colourful immersion processions and ‘pushpavrushti’ and soak in the festive atmosphere. The Mumbai police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate idol immersions. The civic body has made arrangements for artificial ponds, lifeguards, ambulances, medical teams, cranes and other emergency services. The authorities have appealed to devotees to follow safety guidelines, use designated immersion points and cooperate with police and civic personnel during the processions.
More than 24,000 police personnel will be on duty during the day to regulate traffic and ensure the smooth movement of processions, while the BMC has deployed 25,000 staffers, officials said.
