Date:15/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091558610300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

All roads lead to Tank Bund

Staff Reporter

Hundreds of idols of Lord Ganesha immersed in Hussainsagar amid tight security

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

going in style: Devotees taking Ganesh idols for immersion from different parts of the city to the Hussainsagar on Sunday .

Hyderabad: After 11 days of celebrations, the city bid adieu to colourful Ganesh idols on Sunday with their immersion in Hussainsagar, amid tight security. The procession commenced a couple of hours late and continued till late in the evening in old city. Officials expect the immersion to go on till early hours of Monday.

The first idol passed Charminar around noon much to the delight of visitors congregated on pavements to watch the procession, while the Balapur Ganesh idol crossed only at around 5.30 p.m. Soon after auction of the Balapur laddu concluded at about 10 a.m., different youth associations in other colonies at Chandrayangutta and Shahlibanda started decorating vehicles and made other arrangements to participate in the centralised procession.

Each year the entire procession route is crammed with neighbourhood people and also visitors coming from different parts of the city, but this time it was not so. Whether it was because of the live telecast by various news channels or the effect of the New Delhi blasts, there were fewer crowds this time comparatively. The visitors’ turnout steadily picked up later in the evening at Nayapul, M.J. Market, Basheerbagh and Hussainsagar. All through the route, different organisations distributed water and ‘prasadam’ sachets free to the people.

Aerial survey

Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao visited Charminar around 11.30 a.m. and took stock of the security arrangements for peaceful conduct of the procession. Senior police officials constantly monitored the procession route with the help of a helicopter. The procession route was taken over by the personnel of Quick Reaction Team and Rapid Action Force at strategic points.

Except for brief breaks at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. for prayers at Mecca Masjid, the procession continued after idols from other routes joined at Chandrayangutta crossroads. Home Minister K. Jana Reddy accompanied by Energy Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir, BC Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud and other leaders greeted the procession from the special stage erected at Charminar in the afternoon and also addressed the gathering.