Ganesh Nimajjanam passes off smoothly

Tirupati/Chittoor: The mass immersion of Vinayaka idols went off smoothly in the pilgrim city on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of the three-day celebrations of the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival here.

The idols were taken out in a ceremonial procession from various places, to the accompaniment of traditional music and amidst slogans by the devotees hailing the elephant god, to Vinayak Sagar tank on the city outskirts where the idols were immersed. The idols immersion which began around two in the noon is still going on when last reports came in.

In all, about 750 idols were set up in the pilgrim city this year, the immersion of which was to be over by midnight. Police made elaborate security arrangements while the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati in association with other department like Irrigation, Revenue and Fire made arrangements including cranes, platforms, boat swimmers etc. at Vinayak Sagar for an incident free immersion of the idols.

Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Utsava Committee members became volunteers and guided the processions and also provided drinking water to the devotees all along the route to the tank.

Though police barred bursting crackers at many places it was found that the enthusiastic youth bursting crackers during the idols procession at many places.

Residents and youth in Chittoor city enthusiastically celebrated the immersion event of Ganesh idols on Wednesday. Youth have taken a prime role in organising the immersion ceremony in several colonies including the Journalist Colony