Ganesh
Festival-2013 is coming to a close today as millions of devotees fill the
streets of Mumbai to bid a fond adieu to their beloved God. Lord Ganapati, the
peoples’ God who stands for showering happiness and success, and destroyer of
all obstacles, has arrived this time in the city on 9th of September
when more than ten thousand public organizers and more than a hundred thousand
household worshipers brought and installed the Ganesha idols. As per customs
and rituals some of them immersed the idols in the Arabian
sea on pond specially provided for Eco-friendly idols on the 2nd,
3rs, 5th and the 7th day. Today, the 10th day
as per the almanac this year (normally this festival lasts for 11 days), the
last farewell is being accorded to Ganapati.
You can see a
sea of humanity on every beach of the city and the surrounding areas and
streets giving the administration the biggest traffic challenge of the year
every year. Mumbaikars are used to this great day when they hardly venture out
with cars during the peak time and if they do go out on urgent errands they
promptly return home by maximum 4pm. The local holiday declared every year on
this day helps both the public and the authorities. Security arrangements are
also foolproof thanks to the constant efforts to prevent lawbreakers and most
importantly terror strikes.
The great
immersion is set to continue till tomorrow morning as big Ganapati idols take
time weeding the way out to the beach with devotees waiting to give their last
prayers at every junction. Like the King of Lalbag (Lalbagachyya Raja)
sets out on the journey in the morning of the 10th or the 11th
day and the final immersion takes place on the morning of next day. Devotees constantly
chant prayers fondly and request Him to come back early next year. The scenario
is same in every city and areas of Maharashtra
with only the size or volume of the processions varying. Jai Ho!
