Chennai: More than 2,300 Lord Vinayaka idols - worshipped in different parts of the city since Vinayaka Chathurthi was celebrated on September 2 - were taken in processions and immersed in the Bay of Bengal at Foreshore Estate and other beaches on Sunday.
The beating of drums and dancing by devotees to a variety of devotional songs marked the processions that stretched to several kms across the city. The idols from Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts were immersed at six different places. A majority of the idols were immersed in the sea off Foreshore Estate, many being lowered into the sea with the help of cranes.
City Commissioner AK Viswanthan deployed 20,000 police personnel to prevent any untoward incidents in view of the religious processions. The Commissioner himself reviewed the security arrangements on Sunday.
A group of New College Students, Royapettah garlanded Lord Vinayaga idol kept opposite Royapettah Government hospital Mortuary on Sunday. In an effort to promote communal harmony the students took part in the puja before the idol was taken for immersion. Senior police officials and local residents also took part in the programme. (Photo: DC)
The idols were taken in processions in vehicles and immersed in the sea over the past two days. Sunday was the final day of idol immersion and the city witnessed processions of Ganesha idols on several roads. The police made special arrangements for the processions, diverting traffic on several roads. As per an order of the Madras High court, the idols were immersed in the sea within a three-day window.
Normal traffic was affected in arterial roads like Anna Salai. Several main roads in the city were choked with the processions. Santhome, Wallajah Road, Barathi Road, Besant Road, Dr Radhakrishnan, South Canal Bank Road, Kutchery Road EVR Periyar Salai, Harrington Road, 100 ft Road, Arcot Road, Valluvar Kottam High Road, Guindy, Nungambakkam and Kodambakkam High Roads, Nelson Manickam Road, Anna Rotary, Cathedral Road, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Kamarajar Salai, Santhome High Road, DGS Dinakaran Salai, Adyar, Mandaveli, Luz Corner and Royapettah were seen to be particularly busy as the processions drove by.
