Fishermen Oppose Ganesha Idol Immersions At Pedda Jalaripeta Beach
Three days after the Ganesha Festival, the immersion of Ganesha idols has started across Visakhapatnam, with families, groups and individuals transporting idols to the designated beach sites for immersion.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-08-30 17:46 GMT
Visakhapatnam: Three days after the Ganesha Festival, the immersion of Ganesha idols has started across Visakhapatnam, with families, groups and individuals transporting idols to the designated beach sites for immersion.
While the festive spirit remains high, the fishing community of Pedda Jalaripeta has continued to express its concerns. Even before the Ganesha festivities started, they made known to authorities their opposition to immersion of idols at both Pedda Jalaripeta and Lawson's Bay Beach, as they impact their livelihood.
Fishermen of the two areas had submitted petitions to the district collector, police commissioner, and GVMC commissioner, highlighting the decline in fish stocks resulting from immersion activities during the past years. They underline that using their beach for large-scale immersions disrupts marine life and threatens their means of livelihood.
Teddu Prasanna, the headman of Pedda Jalaripet village, clarified the community’s stance in a statement to the Deccan Chronicle. “We have placed six large Vinayaka idols in Pedda Jalaripet, but none of them will be immersed here. We will take them to Gokul Park or Sagar Nagar Beach Point. Only clay idols kept in homes will be immersed at our beach,” he maintained.
On the first day after Vinayaka Chavithi, nearly 200 household clay idols had been immersed at the Pedda Jalaripeta beach. However, the fishermen have disallowed immersion of large Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris (POP).
Local resident P. Lavanya stated, "Our appeal reflects a growing awareness of the ecological impact of unbridled festival practices. There must be sustainable immersion protocols,” she maintained.
Environmental experts say if authorities do not become proactive and monitor beach areas, Ganesh idol immersions would lead to serious environmental concerns both in the short and long term.
Fishermen of the two areas had submitted petitions to the district collector, police commissioner, and GVMC commissioner, highlighting the decline in fish stocks resulting from immersion activities during the past years. They underline that using their beach for large-scale immersions disrupts marine life and threatens their means of livelihood.
Teddu Prasanna, the headman of Pedda Jalaripet village, clarified the community’s stance in a statement to the Deccan Chronicle. “We have placed six large Vinayaka idols in Pedda Jalaripet, but none of them will be immersed here. We will take them to Gokul Park or Sagar Nagar Beach Point. Only clay idols kept in homes will be immersed at our beach,” he maintained.
On the first day after Vinayaka Chavithi, nearly 200 household clay idols had been immersed at the Pedda Jalaripeta beach. However, the fishermen have disallowed immersion of large Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris (POP).
Local resident P. Lavanya stated, "Our appeal reflects a growing awareness of the ecological impact of unbridled festival practices. There must be sustainable immersion protocols,” she maintained.
Environmental experts say if authorities do not become proactive and monitor beach areas, Ganesh idol immersions would lead to serious environmental concerns both in the short and long term.