As Ganesh Chaturthi sweeps through Mumbai, the city is buzzing with vibrant energy and devotion. Although the main pooja occurs on just one day, the festival unfolds over ten days, immersing the city in celebration. By the second day alone, over 62,000 idols had been immersed. Kicking off on Saturday, the celebrations saw families and public groups install idols in homes and pandals, with the first immersion commencing on Sunday afternoon.
By Sunday midnight, the total had reached 62,569 idols, including both household and public mandal figures. In a move towards environmental consciousness, nearly half of the household idols and a substantial number of public mandal idols were immersed in artificial ponds.
Theft alerts issued amidst festive crowds
Despite the large gatherings, authorities reported no major incidents during the immersions. However, the police warned devotees to remain vigilant as incidents of mobile phone and jewellery thefts were reported in the Lalbaug and Chinchpokli areas during the festival’s “aagman” (arrival) day, with valuables worth ₹13 lahks stolen as of now.
Additionally, two motorcycles were reported stolen outside pandals, prompting police to urge devotees to avoid parking in unsecured locations.
Over 2.5 lakh devotees travel to Konkan
In addition to the festivities, over 2,50,000 devotees travelled from Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar regions to their hometowns in Konkan. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) broke records by deploying more than 5,000 buses between September 3 and 8, surpassing last year’s numbers. Despite challenges such as staff strikes and traffic congestion, the operation was successful, with the MSRTC preparing for the return journey between September 12 and 17.
With more than 10-12 lakh people travelling for the festival via buses, trains, and private transport, Mumbai’s spirit of unity and devotion shines through, with both civic bodies and citizens working together to ensure a safe and memorable celebration.
