Thousands Bid Farewell To Khairatabad Ganesha

Hyderabad, Sept.12 (Maxim News): Amidst chanting by thousands of excited devotees, the towering and one of the most popular idols Sri Dwadasha Aditya Maha Ganapati.of Khairatabad was immersed in the Hussain Sagar Lake this afternoon.

The 61-feet gigantic Idol with 12 hooded snake in the background weighing 50 tons was the first to start towards the nearby lake at 7.30 am on Thursday for the immersion. The huge procession, befitting the size and popularity of the idol, wound its way through the streets of Hyderabad, with thousands thronging both sides of the road and atop buildings to have a glimpse of the mammoth idol. The authorities arranged 400-ton special cranes and immersed Ganesha idol by 1.40 pm. The idols’ immersion at Hussain Sagar picked up with the Khairatabad Ganesh idol getting immersed by 1.40 pm on Thursday.

Amid loud chants of ‘Jai Bolo Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai’, the idol was immersed in water from crane No 6. Meanwhile, more idols from different parts of the city had begun to arrive at the lake which happens to be the main immersion point for the Ganesha idols.

Devotees in large numbers, who gathered at Khairatabad since early hours, accompanied the idol till the immersion as planned by the organisers and the police. Earlier, hundreds of idols were immersed in the lake till this afternoon with lakhs of devotees intensely watching the ceremony. Men, women and children watched with awe as the towering idol was being lowered into the lake with the help of a giant crane.

Amidst ecstatic devotees dancing to the drum beats and bhajans, Ganesh idols’ procession started at 6 am from various parts of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and reached Hussainsagar. Thousands of idols in different shapes and sizes were immersed in the lake from the designated spots. Lakhs of people thronged Tank Bund and NTR Marg at the Secretariat who came from districts and AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other States.

The city police ensured a smooth passage of the processions from various localities. There was a little vehicular traffic on the city roads barring idols’ processions on the main procession route.

Special teams along with local police, including Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force and Special Operations Teams (SOT) of Rachakonda and Cyberabad police were assisting in the smooth passage of the religious festivity.
Similarly, forces requisitioned from the neighboring districts, Telangana State Special Police, Central Paramilitary Forces, Rapid Action Force were deployed in all sensitive areas and important points on the procession routes. (Maxim News)