28 September,2026 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana Dahiwal
A crowd gathers at Alka Talkies Chowk during a Ganpati immersion procession. Pics/By Special arrangement
Pune's iconic Ganesh immersion procession continued for nearly 33 hours and 30 minutes, stretching into a second day amid massive crowds, loud music and delays.
The procession began from the Lokmanya Tilak statue at Mandai on Friday, September 25. By Saturday afternoon, 248 Ganesh mandals had proceeded beyond Alka Talkies Chowk, while several others were still moving towards the immersion route through Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, Tilak Road and Kelkar Road. Large crowds at Alka Talkies Chowk and along major roads slowed the movement. Police and civic authorities continued crowd and traffic management efforts.
High-powered sound systems and laser lights used during the Ganpati immersion procession
The procession lasted nearly 34 to 35 hours in 2025, around 28 hours and 45 minutes in 2024, 30 hours and 25 minutes in 2023, and nearly 31 hours in 2022.
>> Sound levels rose sharply after the five honoured Ganpatis moved ahead
>> Several mandals used powerful sound systems and lighting arrangements
>> Police had warned against high-powered sound systems and hazardous laser lights
>> Excessive noise had also come under the Bombay High Court's scrutiny
>> At some spots, four bass units and four top speakers produced extremely high sound levels
>> Police used noise meters and warned the violators
>> Pressure-mid and plasma sound equipment was also prohibited
>> Activist Vidyanand Bapat, who opposes DJs and loudspeakers, was targeted by some mandal activists
>> His photo appeared on LED screens on Tilak Road
>> A satirical "Missing" banner carrying his name was also seen
>> A video of an elderly woman dancing to DJ music from a Narayan Peth balcony went viral
>> Senior police personnel at Alka Talkies Chowk wore hearing-protection headphones while monitoring the procession
The Shreemant Bhau Saheb Rangari Ganpati was immersed at 4.01 am on Saturday at Panchaleshwar immersion ghat.
The procession began from the Tilak statue at Mandai at around 9 pm on Friday.
The Kasba Ganpati was immersed at Patanga Ghat on Saturday.
Its procession began at 9.45 am and reached the ghat at 4.40 pm, taking nearly six-and-a-half hours.
The mandal later expressed regret over the delay.
In neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad, police registered cases against 91 Ganesh mandals for alleged noise-pollution violations. Sound systems, vehicles and DJ equipment linked to 86 mandals were reportedly seized.
Tragedy struck the force when 50-year-old Police Constable Dattatray Telange died of a heart attack on September 25 while on duty. Posted at the Pune Police Commissioner's Office and formerly with Wanowrie police station, Telange collapsed while speaking to mandal members and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Sakshi Joshi, a student
âI particularly loved Pune's traditional dhol-tasha beats. The entire experience made me feel as if I had stepped into a historic city.'
Sudhir Pujari, resident, Pune
âThere appeared to be less use of loudspeakers this year, and timings were followed more strictly. Police also ensured mandals did not stop in the middle of roads, helping keep the procession moving.'
