Puneites bid adieu to Ganpati

Pune, Sep 6 (UNI) The 11-day extravagant celebration of the elephant God culminated with the commencement of the immersion of Ganesh idols in the Mutha river which flows through the heart of the city.

The immersion process is likely to end only tomorrow in view of the large number of Ganesh Mandals participating in the procession.

A large number of Puneites participated in the immersion procession which began this morning at 1030 hrs. City Mayor Rajni Tribhuvan was the first to offer pooja at the Khandova Bridge to the first of the five Manache Ganpati - Kasbapeth Ganpati, and it was immersed at 1430 hrs.

More than 3,000 idols of Lord Ganesh started their procession this morning and waded through the busy Laxmi Road lined with colourful arches and buntings on either sides. The procession was led amidst drum-beats and dhol-lezim, while Maharashtrian women performed, 'Phoogadi' the traditional dance.

The 11-day festival continued without any hindrances despite the terrorist threat following the recent bomb blasts in Mumbai. The Pune police maintained constant vigil and law and order to see the festival through without any untoward incident.

After the immersion of Kasba Ganpati, other four prominent Manache Ganpatis followed. The Kasba Ganpati Mandal, one of the oldest Mandals displayed a large portrait of humanitarian Shri Shri Ravi Shanker, the founder president of Art of Living.

A large number of foreigners who came to witness the Pune festival also performed 'Phoogadi'at Alka talkies chowk. The immersion processions displayed colourful floats en route, depicting various aspects of Maharashtrian culture and development. Thousands of people lined the busy Laxmi road and watched the immersion procession.

UNI DWN/SP KU VD KN1707