Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated with fervour

New Delhi, Aug 27: Ganesh Chaturthi was today celebrated with religious fervour and traditional enthusiasm all over the country with the idols of the Lord being installed in various pandals and mandals amid tight security arrangements.

Forty houses were gutted in a fire which broke out in a colony while performing pooja on the occasion of Vinayaka Chadurthi festival in Prakasham district of Andhra Pradesh.

In Mumbai, the Ganeshotsav festivities began amid religious fervour and gaiety with the ''arrival'' of the deity in households as well as public mandals.

There are more than 150 big 'Sarvajanik Mandals' in the city and its suburbs. These mandals will display the idols of Lord Ganesh for public viewing for 10 days and there upon immerse it while households and devotees would immerse the idol after one-and-half day or five days.

The city police is on high alert to avert any possible eventuality. Four 'Close Circuit Television'(CCTV) mobile vans have been deployed to keep a close vigil on the festivities.

According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Arup Patnaik, dog squads have been increased from five to 15 for larger surveillance. In addition, six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and 12 companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been pressed into service to assist the security arrangements.

However, traffic remained normal and minimal with no major deviations or disruptions, said police sources said.

In Pune, Lord Ganesh was installed at various 'sarvajanik mandals' and homes amid chants of ''Ganapati Bappa Morya'' in an atmosphere of gaiety and religious fervour.

The ten-day festival was ushered in with a colorful procession accompanied by traditional dhols, tasha, lezim and dancing since early morning. One of the five most prestigious Ganapatis -(Manache Ganapati),the Kasba Peth Ganapati idol was installed by noted Art of Living guru Shri Shri Ravi Shankar. The biggest congregation of devotees was seen at the Srimant Dagdu Seth Halwai Ganapati temple in the busy city post area off Laxmi Road. There was a brisk sale of Ganapati idols and the offerings of puja throughout the day.

The demand of idols has gone up considerably despite the recent floods, according to leading idol maker of the city Bhalchander Deshmukh. Mr Deshmukh, who sells his idols under the banner of Natraj Arts, told UNI that he has also received bulk orders from USA apart from every corner of the country. So far, 4,000 idols have already been sold by him, he added.

In Jamshedpur, Ganesh Puja is being celebrated with religious fervour in more than fifty places in and around the steel city.

In Vijayawada, Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is being celebrated with religious fervour at many temples. Devotees in large numbers visited temples to offer prayers. Religious discourses, mythological dramas, Harikathas, dance and music concerts were organised as part of nine-day celebrations.

In Tiruchirapalli, Vinayaka Chaturthi is being celebrated with traditional and religious fervour. Special poojas, Abhishekams and Maha Ganapathy Homams were performed on the occasion.

A report from Sri Karpaga Vinayaka Temple at Pilliyarpatti in Sivaganga district said thousands of devotees visited the ancient temple to offer prayers.

In Pondicherry, Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety enthusiasm in the union territory In Hyderabad, the city police made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of 11-day long Ganesh festival.

The festival will conclude with the immersion of Ganesh idols in Hussainsagar lake on September six.

About 6600 pandals had been erected in the city limits for the festival.

Police said they had identified about 500 hyper-sensitive and sensitive areas and strict vigil was on to nab anti-social elements.

UNI

Related Stories