Hyderabad set to welcome Ganesha

Hyderabad: The Vinayaka Chavithi festivities are set to begin here on Friday with increased emphasis on worshipping environment-friendly clay Ganesha idols. The festival would be celebrated on a massive scale in Hyderabad and elsewhere in the Telangana State with thousands of idols installed in residential colonies and apartments.

Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti president Bhagawanta Rao said an estimated 1,25,000 idols, including those in residential apartments, are expected to be installed in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. The festive mood has already set in and vendors have begun sale of small and big sized Ganesh idols on the roadsides at different places in the city. The devotees made brisk purchases. The government and police officials were making elaborate arrangements to ensure that the festivities pass off smoothly, without any untoward incidents.

A major feature of the Ganesh festival this year is the promotion of clay Ganesh idols for worship. The thousands of idols are immersed in water bodies, mainly the Hussainsagar lake, after the conclusion of nine-day festivities. The immersion would take place on September 5 this year.

Highlighting that the use of large idols made of Plaster of Paris and chemicals would increase acid content in water bodies and kill aquatic life once they are immersed in water bodies, the GHMC is promoting clay idols. The GHMC said it is promoting clay idols of Ganesha "attached with sacred plants." "The idols are so designed that, after the completion of Ganesh Navarathri Utsavams, these idols can be immersed in their own houses and the plant remains as a sanctum plant.

This activity will in turn increase the greenery in Hyderabad," the GHMC said. The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) has also taken up a campaign to promote worshipping of clay idols. Several other NGOs and associations are supplying clay idols free of cost. "Many people now want to worship clay idols.

So, I am selling clay idols this year," Mallesh, a vendor, said. The vendors have put on sale Ganesh idols of various sizes and hues to attract the devotees. Idols made in the style of super-hit film 'Baahubali' were also found at some places in the city. A major attraction in Ganesh festivities in Hyderabad is the about 60-ft tall idol installed every year at Khairatabad.

Bhagawanta Rao demanded that the government supply uninterrupted water, power and also patriotic and devotional audio cassettes to the pandals. He appealed to the pandal organises to play only patriotic and devotional songs.