Kolhapur, Sept 6 (UNI) With traditional sounds, high mast lights, and amid enthusiastic festivity, thousands of people in this western Maharashtra district, known for its gur and sugar belt, bid a traditional farewell to Lord Ganesh on the auspicious occasion of Anant Chaturdashi today, marking the end of the eleven-day long Ganesh festival.
The Ganesh idol immersion procession began this morning amidst loud chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya", accompanied by the rhythmic beats of dhols, lezims, and cymbals.
The main procession was traditionally led by the Manacha Ganpati of Shree Tukaram Mali Ganesh Mandal. A puja was performed at 0900 hours near the Khasbag Wrestling Arena by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and former minister Satej Patil.
Kolhapur District Collector Amol Yedge, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) Commissioner K. Manjulaxmi, District Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta, and several political leaders were present on this occasion.
The district administration and KMC banned idol immersion in the Panchganga River and the historic Rankala Tank. Roads leading to these locations were barricaded, and the immersion route was diverted from Gangavesh to Irani Khan.
To maintain law and order, district police installed CCTV cameras at several points including Mirjkar Tikti, Binkhambi Ganesh Mandir, Mahalaxmi Mandir Chowk, Gujari Corner, Papachi Tikti, Gangavesh, and Irani Khan. Authorities also banned laser shows in the procession due to health concerns affecting the eyes.
Heavy police bandobast was deployed along the immersion route. The deployment included the Additional SP, 7 DYSPs, 25 Police Inspectors, 105 APIs and DPIs, 740 police constables and women constables, 555 home guards, and one platoon of State Reserve Police. Support was also taken from the White Army, social organizations, and 'Police Mitra' volunteers.
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