32-ft clay Ganesh idol getting ready for installation

Malkajgiri: A 32 ft Ganesh idol is getting ready for installation by the Gana Deendayalnagar Friends’ Association and Gana Mahila Welfare Association after securing clay from the Ganga River. The associations are to use water colours in the idol’s preparation by bringing a special team from West Bengal, organiser Sharavan told The Hans India. He said the idol would cost Rs 7.5 lakh, boosted by voluntary donations of local residents.

According to Shravan, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated with enthusiasm and devotion. Students while presenting dances, sports and games in the pandal, worship the Lord to fulfill their desires. As many as 50,000 devotees will have special darshan of the deity. He said the events organised would include ‘annadanam’, auction of the ‘laddu’. Last year one Murali had bagged the laddu for Rs.3 lakh.

Other organisers Kiran and Murali told THI that 5,000 litres of water supplied by ten borewells would be used for immersing the idol. After the immersion each devotee would be presented with a ‘Tulasi’ sapling along with the soil used in preparing the idol, said women’s wing president Satyavati, Savitri and Sarika. The organisers thanked THI for publicising their efforts in protecting the environment, while appealing to every devotee to worship only clay Ganapati idols.