Amidst chants of ‘Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai’ and the blaring of horns, the towering 70-feet Khairtabad Ganesh idol was immersed in Hussain Sagar Lake on the afternoon of Tuesday (September 17, 2024).
The Shobha Yatra, or immersion procession, began around 7 a.m., passing through Sensation Theatre, Telephone Bhavan, Iqbal Minar, and the Telugu Thalli flyover, before reaching Crane No. 4 on the PVNR Marg, the designated spot for the immersion.
An air of festive spirituality swept through Hyderabad as citizens prepared to bid adieu to Lord Ganesh after 11 days of installation on Ananta Chaturdasi on September 17, 2024. Dressed in a coordinated way, swaying to the beat of drums and music, thousands of devotees chanted ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ and moved through arterial roads and residential complexes. The processions to transport large idols on specialised transport vehicles began overnight on Monday (September 16, 2024). The day’s big draw remained the procession of Bada Ganesh of Khairatabad or the 70-ft high clay idol Saptamukha Maha Shakti Ganapati with seven faces. At the other end of the city, the procession of Balapur Ganesh was the big draw as it made its way to the village square before the auction of the ladoo.
Elsewhere in the city, Ganesh processions were in various stages of being transported while others were on their way back after immersion. A row of cranes have been erected on the banks of the Hussainsagar Lake for immersion. Smaller ponds and lakes have also been readied for immersion including the Mir Alam Tank near the Nehru Zoological Park.
A total of 73 exclusive ponds and five big lakes have been designated, and 468 cranes have been commissioned for immersion.
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The Hyderabad City police have stepped up their preparations to ensure a peaceful and secure celebration. The police have also implemented a comprehensive security plan, including increased patrolling, intelligence gathering, anti-sabotage checks and the deployment of additional forces.
Read: Ganesh immersion escalates traffic gridlock in Hyderabad on Monday
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of the arrangements for the upcoming Ganesh idol immersion at the state-of-the-art Command Control Centre.
Read: Ganesh laddu auctioned for ₹1.87 crore in Bandlaguda in Hyderabad
