Thousands of devotees immersed Ganesh idols across Telangana as Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations concluded, ensuring large-scale participation and security.
In Telangana, thousands of idols of Lord Ganesh were immersed in various water bodies, notably the Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad, on September 25. This event marked the end of the Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations, which commenced on September 14. Devotees participated enthusiastically, chanting traditional phrases such as ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ while processions moved towards immersion points.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar reported that the immersion processions were conducted peacefully. He expressed optimism that the idol immersions would conclude by the morning of September 26. As of 4 PM on the final day of festivities, a reported 33,133 Ganesh idols had already been immersed, including 10,367 within the city limits.
A centerpiece of the celebrations, the 69-foot tall ‘Khairatabad Bada Ganesh’ idol was ceremonially immersed at Hussain Sagar lake. Another significant event was the auction of the ‘laddu’ offered at the Balapur Ganesh pandal, which fetched Rs 39 lakh this year, a slight increase from last year’s auction of Rs 35 lakh. This laddu auction is viewed as a significant highlight of the festival, symbolising wealth and good fortune for the winning bidder.
Extensive security and crowd management measures were in place for the immersion activities, with approximately 30,000 police personnel deployed to maintain order, regulate traffic, and ensure public safety. The authorities implemented surveillance techniques using over 10,000 CCTV cameras, 24 drones, and nearly 100 high-rise cameras to monitor the crowds and assist with idol counting. Personnel equipped with advanced binoculars were also positioned on rooftops along procession routes to oversee the event.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Telangana have garnered significant attention and participation, reflecting the region’s strong cultural and religious engagement during this annual celebration.
