28 September,2023 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Ganesh Visarjan 2023: Various Ganesh mandals and Lord Ganesh devotees in Mumbai on Thursday started processions to immerse the idols of Lord Ganesh, marking the culmination of the 10-day festival.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), By 9 pm, a total of 20,195 idols had been immersed, comprising 18,772 household ones, 1,019 'sarvajanik' or public idols and 304 of goddess Gauri.
The civic body said that 7,381 of 20,195 idols were immersed in artificial ponds set up by the BMC in different parts of the city.
The 7,381 idols comprise 7,084 household idols, 204 'sarvajanik' ones and 93 of goddess Gauri, an official data said.
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Since early in the day, huge crowds gathered at various places in the city to catch a glimpse of their favourite deity, as decked up idols of Lord Ganesh in various forms and sizes were taken out of pandals for their final journey, accompanied by music, dance and prayers.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joined in the festive spirit of Ganeshotsav by showering flowers on processions of Ganesh Visarjan in Mumbai on Thursday during the immersion ceremony at Girgaon Chowpatty on the auspicious occasion of Anant Chaturdashi.
As the entire area resonated with the chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya," Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis participated in the time-honored tradition of bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha.
The festival, which began with 'Ganesh Chaturthi' on September 19, concludes on the 'Anant Chaturdashi' on Thursday with the immersion of idols in the Arabian Sea and other water bodies here.
In Mumbai's Lalbaug area, famous for celebrating the festival with grandeur, the procession of idols of Tejukaya and Ganesh Gully mandals started with chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya' (come soon next year Lord).
The procession of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol, that attracts maximum number of devotees during the 10-day festival, started at around 11.30 am.
A large number of people were seen waiting on both sides of roads for the final 'darshan' of the idol.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Lalbaug and other major procession routes of Ganesh idols to bid farewell to the deity with heartfelt prayers and witness the vibrant processions being taken out with music, dance and sprinkling of 'gulal' (vermillion powder).
