Ganesh Idol Immersions Continue Despite Rains In Kakinada

Ganesh idol immersion processions continued in Kakinada city, Kakinada Rural and other parts of the district on Thursday despite incessant rains caused by the cyclone over the past two days.

Although some processions were postponed on Wednesday, idols began arriving for immersion on Thursday. A total of 1,004 idols had been immersed over the past two days, including 600 on Thursday, while the process was continuing. Officials said the immersion programme would continue on Saturday as well.

Devotees took out processions accompanied by dances and cultural programmes. Women from Vinukondavari Street carried a Ganesh idol to Salt Creek while performing Kolatam, reciting Ganesh stotras and participating in other cultural programmes before immersing the idol.

Many organisers also conducted Annadanam during the nine-day festivities, serving different food items to thousands of people.

Temples Protection Samithi convener D.N. Ramesh said the participation of workers and employees of several shops and commercial establishments in the Annadanam programmes had encouraged the organisers.

The Nagara Ganesh Utsav Samiti (City Ganesh Festival Committee), which has been organising immersion events in Kakinada city for 38 years and in Kakinada Rural for 12 years, has decided to function as an affiliate of the Andhra Pradesh Ganesh Utsav Samiti from this year.

The immersion programme is being conducted under the leadership of AP Ganesh Utsav Samithi district president Sitapati Rao, Parishad leader Kanchimarthi Pedda Appaji, BJP district president Bikkina Visweswara Rao, BJP senior leader Y. Malakondaiah, Duvvuri Subrahmanyam and others.

The Samithi thanked District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, Superintendent of Police G. Bindu Madhav, municipal officials and personnel from other departments for their support in conducting the immersion programme.