Vinayaka idols procession passes off peacefully

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 2. Amidst chanting of `Om Kali, Jai Kali', Vinayaka idols from the southern suburbs of the city were taken out in a peaceful procession and immersed in the sea at Marina this evening, bringing to a close this year's processions, organised by various formations.

Organised by a section of Shiv Sena volunteers, mostly belonging to Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvellore districts, the rally started from Saidapet and passed along Anna Salai, Eldams Road, TTK Salai, Oliver Road, Luz Church Road, Royapettah High Road, Radhakrishnan Salai and Kamarajar Salai before reaching the Seerani Arangam, behind which the idols were immersed.

Earlier, the idols in lorries, vans, autorickshaws and cart vehicles (fish carts) which came along Arcot Road, Velachery Road and GST Road assembled near Maraimalai Adigal Bridge, Saidapet before the main procession commenced around 3 p.m. Enroute, some idols joined the procession at Luz junction.

The presence of an image along with that of a 21-foot `Viswaroopa Vinayaka', from Pallavaram created a flutter as the police objected to its presence and seized it. According to Mr.S.Kumarasamyraja, State vice-president, Shiv Sena Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations committee, the image concerned was that of the Pakistan President, Gen.Pervez Musharraf, ``pleading with Vinayaka that he would not ask for Kashmir''. Not to be outdone, the organiser stuck a poster to the Lord's idol about the ``arrest of Gen.Pervez Musharraf''.

There was a small hitch at the Kathipara junction, when an idol hit a cantilever traffic signal, as a result of which the figure's top portion was damaged.

The lord's idol came in different forms, including that of one shaped as a coconut and an impressive 16-foot `Raanuva Vettri Vinayaka' in a reclining posture and toting an automatic rifle, atop a battle tank. In fact, this idol, brought on a trailer from Tambaram, was the centre of attraction on the Marina.

A banner tied to a vehicle demanded of the Union and State Governments to ban religious conversions.

Some of the vehicles carrying the images had to proceed in a zig- zag fashion on Eldams Road, Alwarpet, in view of the presence of tree branches. An idol tilted to a side when it was going along Oliver Road. Immediately the volunteers set right its position.

The rally participants danced and shouted slogans as the procession wended its way along.

The police had made elaborate bandobust arrangements for the procession. On the Marina, in view of the death by drowning of three persons during a similar rally on Friday last, the police had put up a board cautioning the processionists and public not to venture into the sea. However, there was no visible enforcement and youth could be seen merrily jumping into the sea to push the idols deep inside.

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Section  : Southern States
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