Ganesh immersion process lasts 42 hours in Belagavi

The Ganesha Visarjan procession in Belagavi concluded around noon on Sunday (September 27) after nearly 42 hours. It was one of the longest immersion processions in the city in history, the organisers claimed.

The public procession of Ganesha idols began on September 25 evening, following the customary puja and aarti at Hutatma Chowk. The first immersion began at around 3.30 p.m. that day. The last idol to be immersed was the Belagavi City Corporation Ganesha that was immersed on Sunday afternoon.

The police estimated that 1,056 public Ganesha mandals had installed idols across the city. Most participated in the 11-day celebrations. Some had taken up immersions on Ashtami on the fifth day. But others did so on Ananth Chaturdashi, after 11 days. A large number of devotees from Belagavi and surrounding areas gathered along the procession route. Large crowds gathered along the route as idols arrived at Dharmaveer Sambhaji Circle and other prominent points. Youngsters danced to DJ music while traditional Dhol-Tasha, Dhvaja Pathak, Dollu and Kolata performances added to the atmosphere.

The idols from Chavhat Galli, Khadak Galli, Bandhur Galli, Ganachari Galli and Rajahamsa Galli, Anagol, joined the procession later. The procession finally reached its conclusion with the immersion of the Belagavi City Corporation’s Ganesha idol at Kapileshwar.

Over 4,000 police personnel were deployed for security and traffic management. Government officers, including fire and emergency personnel, civic staff, Hescom employees, emergency teams, lifeguards, earthmover operators, and others remained deployed for prolonged hours for nearly three days. During the preparatory meetings, Prakash Nikam, Police Commissioner, had appealed to the Ganesha mandals to restrict the procession to around 24 hours, but it could not be achieved. Vikas Kalaghatagi, the Ganesha Maha Mandal chairman, demanded more immersion ponds in various parts of the city.

The procession concluded peacefully without any major untoward incidents, except for the accidental drowning of a youth.

Though the city has four immersion ponds, the two immersion ponds near the Kapileshwar temple are main venues for the ritual. The capacity of these ponds and time required for each immersion resulted in long queues. This put a strain on the traffic near the temple, the old national highway and the old city markets behind the bus stand.

Bright side

Mr. Nikam thanked the people of Belagavi for their cooperation and acknowledged the efforts of police personnel and other departments who worked continuously through the procession. He pointed to the height of some idols and the time required for their movement and immersion as factors contributing to the delay. The Commissioner congratulated several mandals for their reduced DJ sound levels and avoidance of plasma and laser lighting this year.

City Corporation Commissioner Karthik M. also thanked the people, municipal personnel and police.