Nagpur: The grand conclusion of the 11-day Ganesh festival on Tuesday, September 17, Anant Chaturdashi, filled Nagpur with high-pitched chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya.”
Thousands of devotees gathered across the city, bidding farewell to their beloved Lord Ganesh, as they marched toward various artificial immersion tanks set up by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Amid the rhythmic beats of dhols, drums, and joyous chants, devotees danced and sprinkled gulal while carrying vibrant idols from homes and public pandals for immersion.
The atmosphere was charged with mixed emotions, as people sang and danced with heavy hearts, bidding an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesh while hoping for His early return next year. Men, women, children, and the elderly alike thronged the immersion sites, where NMC had made comprehensive arrangements for eco-friendly idol immersions by installing artificial tanks. This year, no direct immersion into lakes was allowed to prevent pollution, with voluntary organizations like Green Vigil Foundation, Green Earth Organisation, and Rotary Clubs actively encouraging devotees to use the artificial ponds.
These organizations also collected nirmalya (sacred offerings) from devotees to keep the lakes and surrounding areas clean. At each site, devotees performed the final aarti of Lord Ganesh and distributed prasad, mainly consisting of traditional sweets like modaks, coconuts, and pedhas, before bidding farewell to their cherished deity.
For devotees, Lord Ganesh is more than a deity; He is a family member who arrives on Ganesh Chaturthi, stays with them for 10 days, and then departs for His heavenly abode. This emotional bond was palpable, as many had tears in their eyes during the immersion processions.
The immersion began early Tuesday morning, with large processions from Sarvajanik Mandals carrying out visarjan to the rhythmic sounds of traditional dhol-tasha beats.
Nagpur Police made thorough security arrangements to ensure the visarjan processions proceeded peacefully. Traffic police monitored and regulated vehicles carrying the idols, while over 4,500 police personnel were deployed across the city to keep a close watch. Preliminary reports indicated that the event concluded without any untoward incidents, marking a peaceful and memorable end to the Ganesh festival for the people of Nagpur.
