Idols above 5 feet crossed more than 90,000 this year
Idols above 5 feet crossed more than 90,000 this year
Hyderabad: There has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of Ganesh pandals this year. The number of pandals (of idols over five feet) registered crossed 90,000, while in 2014 it was 70,000 in Greater Hyderabad. If the smaller idols are taken into account, the number this year will cross 1 lakh.
While the time limit for immersion is 48 hours, due to the increase in idols, immersion time will be extended. Though there hasn’t been an increase in the number of Ganesh idols in the Old City, the final tally has increased due to the merging of colonies, especially in the merged municipalities falling under Cyberabad.
Mr R. Shashidhar general secretary of Bhagya Nagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, said, “Around 20,000 idols have been added this year; as per police records, the total pandals registered are 90,000, this does not include clay Ganesh’s and small idols. The maximum sale of idols were by artist Sunder from Dhoolpet.
“The procession will start from the South zone, the Samithi appeals to the general public to start moving the idols in the morning hours as it is Anant Chaturthi.” The Balapur Ganesh will be the first to move for immersion. Meanwhile the Khairatabad Ganesh will start at around 11.00 pm on Sunday and the immersion is likely to take place before 11am on Monday.
The Telangana Transport department has arranged over 9,600 vehicles for Ganesh immersions on September 27. Vehicles will also be made available from September 25 at 13. Those requiring vehicles should submit application with Utsav committee. One can contact 040-24740044 for details. Those requiring the vehicles should submit an application with the Bhagya Nagar Utsav Committee by paying a nominal price and seek a token.
The vehicle centers are at Necklace Road, Kompally, Tolichowki, Zoo park, Malakpet , Moosaram Bagh, Champapet, Trimulgherry, Nagole, Gachibowli, Patancheruvu, Auto Nagar, Medchal and Shirvarampally.
Heavy vehicles, buses banned for immersion:
On September 27, for the Ganesh immersion procession, the Cyberabad police has barred heavy vehicles on the roads from Bairamalguda to Champapet, LB Nagar to Uppal, Neredmet to Safilguda. Uppal to Ramanthapur, RK Puram to ECIL, Balanagar to Fatehnagar Bridge, Godrej to Erragadda, Miyapur to Godrej and Gudenmet to Narsapur. RTC buses will not be allowed Gaddiannaram to Sankeshwar Bazar.
Saidabad to Saroornagar Tank, Uppal Ring Road to Ramanthapur, Neredmet to Safilguda Tank, AOC Gate to Safilguda Tank, and Anandbagh to Safilguda Tank. Heavy vehicles have been barred from most parts of the twin cities on September 27.
City devotees give green signal for clay Ganeshas:
Quite a few residents welfare associations would, this time, immerse their Ganeshas using sprinklers and tubs. An estimated 50,000 clay Ganeshas were sold in the city this festival season. However, while the authorities tried to spread awareness about the Pune and Bengaluru modes of immersions, they did not gain much following in the city.
Major Shiva Kiran, vice president of United Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “A significant shift to clay Ganeshas was seen in areas like Malkajgiri, Habsiguda, Shantinigar and Begumpet. In the past, they were available only at select government outlets. A unique feature of this year’s festival was the ‘Bucket Nimmajan Campaign’. Several RWAs joined the Bucket Nimmajan campaign by way of decentralised immersion and using the water for plants, thanks mainly to Facebook and social media campaigns.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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