Ganesh Visarjan 2024: Over 200,000 Idols Immersed in Mumbai Festival
The Ganesh Visarjan festival in Mumbai saw a record-breaking number of idols immersed this year, with over 200,000 idols being immersed over the 11 days of the festival. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials reported that a total of 37,534 idols were immersed on the final day of the festival, including 31,011 household idols, 6,315 public idols, and 208 Gauri idols.
Out of the total number of idols immersed, 11,364 were immersed into artificial lakes, providing an environmentally-friendly option for the immersion process. The civic authorities have praised the successful and peaceful conduct of the immersion process, with no untoward incidents reported.
The data released by the BMC showed that the highest number of immersions took place on the second day of the festival, with 66,339 idols being immersed. This was followed by 48,004 immersions on the sixth day, 38,717 on the fifth day, 37,534 on the 11th day, and 18,427 on the seventh day.
The Ganeshotsav festival began in Maharashtra on September 7, with idols of the deity being installed in homes and public pandals across the state. Families, along with children and elderly members, participated in the festivities, bringing their beloved god home amid chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and the beating of drums. Traditional drum troupes accompanied the processions in various parts of Mumbai.
Many mandals, which are groups that celebrate the festival in public places, brought in their Ganesh idols with grand processions. The famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol attracted huge crowds on the final day of the festival, as devotees bid farewell to the deity before the final immersion.
Processions from different parts of Mumbai made their way towards the Arabian Sea and other water bodies for the final immersion, marking the end of this year’s festivities. Devotees gathered in large numbers on Anant Chaturdashi, eager to catch a final glimpse of the elaborately adorned idols of the elephant-headed god as they were taken for immersion.
The Ganesh Visarjan festival in Mumbai is a time of joy, celebration, and devotion for devotees across the city. The successful completion of the immersion process without any incidents is a testament to the coordination and efforts of the civic authorities and the community.
With the conclusion of this year’s festivities, devotees are already looking forward to next year’s Ganesh Visarjan, hoping for another successful and peaceful celebration of their beloved deity.
