The number of Ganesh pandals in the city has increased this year when compared to last year. Last year the number of Ganesh idols were around 55,000 and this year the number is over 65,000. This year nearly 26,000 Ganesh idols were immersed in Hussain Sagar.
This year there was also an increase in eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols and to promote environment-friendly idols, these idols were freely distributed by NGOs and environmental groups. Compared to last year, this year these idols looked more colourful and attractive.
The whole stretch of Hussain Sagar witnessed nearly one million people. For the safety of people and for the smooth conduct of Ganesh immersion, about 15,000 security personnel, 13 companies of para-military forces, deployed 59 stationary, 71 mobile cranes, 32 bomb disposal squads, 25 sniffer dogs and over 800 CCTV cameras were deployed.
The main attraction this year was the 59-feet tall Ganesh idol at Khairtabad and a huge 4,000 kg laddoo was placed on the hand of the Ganesha. This laddoo is not auctioned, it is distributed among devotees on the immersion day, but for the first time ever, the laddoo was not distributed, because it was spoiled by the continuous heavy rains and was declared unfit for consumption by medical officers. Next year, a 60-feet tall Ganesh idol is planned at Khairtabad.
The process of auctioning the ‘laddoos’ at different pandals had taken place in Hyderabad. The laddoo of the famous pandal at Balapur village on the city’s outskirts was auctioned for Rs. 9.5 lakh against Rs. 7.5 lakh last year.
Due to heavy rains in several parts of the city the immersion process was delayed. But despite heavy rains, devotees carried out the procession in full spirit.
After the immersion process ended the GHMC authorities had a tough time in lifting and clearing around 4500 tonnes of garbage, it had to deploy around 167 tipper trucks and 592 labourers to clean up the Hussain Sagar.
“Ganpati Bappa Morya, Agle Baras Tu Jaldi Aa”
(O Lord Ganesha, come again early next year)