25 September,2026 01:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ganesh immersion processions began across Mumbai on Anant Chaturdashi as devotees gathered to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha. File pic
Ganesh idol immersion processions began across Mumbai on Friday morning as devotees gathered to bid an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesha on Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 12-day Ganesh festival.
The city resonated with chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" and the beats of traditional dhol-tasha as devotees accompanied idols from community pandals towards various immersion locations.
Following traditional puja and aarti at several public Ganesh pandals, processions of prominent mandals began amid devotional chants, traditional music, gulal and showers of flower petals. Several more processions are scheduled to take place later in the day.
Large crowds of devotees, including women and children, gathered along roads in Lalbaug to watch the colourful processions and witness "pushpavrushti", or the showering of flower petals on Ganesh idols.
Lalbaug witnesses a significant footfall during Ganeshotsav as devotees from across Mumbai and other parts of the country visit popular pandals, including the famous Lalbaugcha Raja.
Several processions were accompanied by dhol-tasha troupes, with devotees dancing and chanting devotional slogans as the idols moved towards Girgaon Chowpatty and other major immersion sites.
Anant Chaturdashi marks the culmination of the 12-day Ganesh festival, when devotees immerse idols in natural water bodies or designated artificial ponds.
Immersion processions across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are expected to continue through Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, with large numbers of devotees participating in the farewell celebrations.
The festival's final day is marked by vibrant processions and community participation as devotees accompany their idols to immersion points.
The Mumbai Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have made extensive arrangements to manage the large crowds and facilitate the smooth movement of immersion processions.
More than 24,000 police personnel will be deployed during the day for traffic regulation, crowd management and security, officials said. The BMC has deployed around 25,000 staffers for various duties related to the immersion arrangements.
The civic body has also set up artificial immersion ponds and deployed lifeguards, ambulances, medical teams, cranes and other emergency services at designated locations.
Authorities have appealed to devotees to follow safety guidelines, use designated immersion points and cooperate with police and civic officials during the processions.
(With inputs from PTI)
