Maharashtra bids adieu to Lord Ganesh

Mumbai: Maharashtra bids farewell to Lord Ganesh amidst a riot of colours, traditional dance and music with thousands of big and small idols of the elephant-headed God set to be immersed under tight security on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi today.

In Mumbai, people in large numbers lined up the streets to witness the immersion of Ganesh idols in the city and suburbs as chants of  Ganapati Bappa Moraya  rented the air.

Maharashtra Government has declared a holiday today. Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC), Indian Navy, Coast Guard, social groups and political parties are overseeing the immersion that marks the end of the Ganesh festival which began on September 19.

The BMC has prepared specific locations for immersion of the idols, the main being the Arabian Sea beaches at Chowpatty, Mahim, Prabhadevi, Juhu, Versova and Marve.

There are several other immersion sites, including the Mithi river inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in suburban Borivali, Aarey Milk Colony, small lakes, ponds and wells.

The civic body has created artificial ponds for immersion of small idols which will ease pressure on the regular sites. The immersion processions of all major Ganesh mandals started in the afternoon all over the metropolis where strict traffic norms are in place for the day.

Immersion processions were also taken out in other parts of the state.

PTI