Chennai: Around 1,300 idols of Lord Vinayaka were immersed peacefully at five different locations in the city on Wednesday. Almost the entire force of the city police was deployed to ensure a smooth procession of events. Four additional commissioners, six joint commissioners, 22 deputy commissioners, 66 assistant commissioners were deployed leading a force numbering 15,000 personnel, according to officials.
Most of the idols were slotted for immersion at Srinivasapuram beach near Marina while the other immersion points included Neelankarai, Kasimedu fishing harbour, Tiruvottiyur and Ramakrishna Nagar in Ennore.
City police said that they have deployed their maximum strength to ensure a peaceful procession. The vans carrying idols are numbered according to the police station limits and a policeman accompanies each van.
“The procession started as early as 10 am this time as more groups had registered this time. Apart from our regular force, we also put quick response teams on our Gypsy vehicles,” a senior police officer said.
All one could see was trucks and load vans carrying the idols of Lord Ganesha throughout the Karumariamman street leading to Santhome High road and far beyond. Traffic on Santhome high road towards Adyar was completely blocked for the procession.
Drum rolls, slogans, youngsters and elders alike gyrating to the drum beats, curious foreign tourists with huge cameras, small clay idols dotting the beach while their colossal counterparts getting a chance for a dip in the sea all made an appearance this year too with the latest addition in the last few years being- the inevitable, ‘Selfies with Lord Ganesha’.
