First phase of idol immersion concludes

First phase of idol immersion concludes
The Hindu

HUBLI: The first phase of the immersion of Ganesha idols that began on Thursday here concluded in the early hours of Friday with over 100 idols being immersed. The 11-day festivities would conclude on Saturday.

A large number of people participated in the procession of Ganesha idols with religious fervour that began from Durgad Bail in Old Hubli. In the first phase, mainly Ganesha idols consecrated at various pandals situated in Old Hubli were immersed in the Kapila Bavi.

Along the procession route people had lined up to have darshan of Lord Ganesha. Loud music and bursting of crackers continued throughout the night with several young men and children dancing to hit numbers.

The police had made elaborate arrangements at the well meant for immersion of the idols. The decorated vehicles carrying the idols were stopped at several points to avoid rush at the well.

Inaugurating the procession, Narayan Nadamani, Police Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad, said the Ganesha festival gets more meaningful when people of different communities take part in the celebration without any inhibitions.

B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Ashok Katwe, former MLA, Ranga Baddi and Altaf Kittur, corporators, were present.

This year the immersion ceremony is expected to be completed early as a new artificial well has been constructed on the premises of the Mahatma Gandhi Garden which houses the Indira Glass House. According to the arrangements, some of the idols would be immersed at the new well and others at the Moorusaviramutt Well situated near the Basava Vana.

The procession of Ganesha idols would be inaugurated by Basavaraj Horatti, Minister for Science and Technology, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, at Durgad Bail. Sri Gurusiddha Rajayogindra Swamiji, S.R. Morey, Minister for Municipal Administration, Jagadish Shettar, MLA and BJP State unit President, and Pralhad Joshi, MP, would participate in the function.

The procession would taken out through Broadway-Myadar Oni-Dajibanpet-Kittur Chennamma Circle-Basavana/Indira Glass House, according to Amaresh Hipparagi, honorary secretary, Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Samitigal Mahamandal.