Mumbai: Chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and rhythmic beats of traditional dhol-tasha reverberated across Mumbai on Friday as thousands of devotees bid an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesh on the final, 12th day of the festival.
As immersion processions wound their way to seashores and artificial ponds, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said 16,154 Ganapati idols had been immersed till 9 pm.
No untoward incident was reported anywhere even as lakhs of devotees took part in the final day processions, it said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also stationed over 25,000 officers and staff members to facilitate safe and efficient immersion operations.
The 12-day Ganesh festival concludes on Anant Chaturdashi, when devotees immerse idols of Lord Ganesha in natural water bodies or artificial ponds, symbolizing the deity’s return after the annual visit. Colorful and energetic processions are being held across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, with celebrations expected to continue late into the night and into the early hours of Saturday.
In Mumbai’s Lalbaug area, large crowds, including women and children, lined the streets to witness the grand processions and the traditional pushpavrishti (showering of flower petals) on the idols. Lalbaug remains one of the most visited locations during Ganeshotsav, attracting devotees from across Maharashtra and other parts of the country, particularly to seek blessings at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja and other prominent pandals.
Many processions featured traditional dhol-tasha troupes, with devotees dancing and chanting devotional slogans as they made their way towards Girgaon Chowpatty, one of Mumbai’s most significant immersion sites. Processions were also heading towards several other designated immersion points across the city.
