Anant Chaturdashi 2026: Mumbai records 36,268 Ganesh idol immersions in latest BMC update

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC said that 36268 Ganesh idols had been immersed across Mumbai by 6 pm on SaturdayThe latest figures include 7051 public Ganesh idols 28657 household idols and 560 Gauri idolsThese figures are a later update to the civic bodyrsquos immersion count A BMC press release issued on Saturday with figures available till 3 pm had reported 36240 immersions and identified the figure as the 11thday total The press release had put the overall number of idols immersed during this yearrsquos Ganeshotsav at 199185The main Anant Chaturdashi immersion ceremony at Swrajyabhoomi Chowpatty was held on Friday with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale ministers political leaders senior officials diplomats and foreign nationals among those presentThe BMC said its comprehensive arrangements along with the cooperation of various government and semigovernment agencies public Ganesh mandals volunteers and citizens helped ensure the smooth conduct of the immersion festivitiesImmersions carried out at 67 natural sites over 383 artificial pondsThe civic body had made available 67 natural immersion sites and more than 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations across MumbaiIn accordance with Bombay High Court directions arrangements were made for the immersion of Ganesh idols measuring up to six feet in artificial pondsTo encourage ecofriendly celebrations the BMC distributed more than 940 metric tonnes of shadu clay free of cost to idol makers It also made 25400 litres of ecofriendly colours available free of costThe civic body also implemented the lsquoOne Ganpati One Treersquo initiative conceptualised under the vision of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Rajesh Tawde Under the initiative the BMC aims to plant as many trees as the number of Ganesh idols immersed within its limitsMore than 25000 civic personnel deployedMore than 25000 BMC officers and employees were deployed for the immersion arrangementsThe civic body had kept 1194 steel plates 23 German rafts 34 cranes 85 ambulances and 10 motorboats ready at various immersion sites A total of 1132 lifeguards were deployed for the safety of citizensFor nighttime immersions the BMC arranged 6052 floodlights and searchlights It also set up 261 reception centres 228 control rooms and 75 observation towers for crowd management citizen guidance and coordination between various agenciesA total of 489 temporary toilets were also made available at immersion locationsSpecial arrangements at Girgaum ChowpattySpecial arrangements were made at Swrajyabhoomi Girgaum Chowpatty for Anant ChaturdashiThe arrangements included 12 artificial ponds 20 observation towers 22 rafts 90 toilets and 2000 personnel A primary health centre three ambulances 548 floodlights and 11 searchlights were also providedAn Emergency Management Control Room was operational at the location to facilitate immediate coordination between various agencies in an emergencyThe control room included representatives of the BMC BEST Mumbai Police Mumbai Fire Brigade health department National Disaster Response Force and Aniruddha Academy of Disaster Management Mobile phones digital mobile radio and HAM radio facilities were available for communicationThe BMC also trained 725 volunteers from public Ganesh mandals as first responders including in first aid and CPROver 934 metric tonnes of nirmalya collectedThe BMCrsquos Solid Waste Management Department made special arrangements for nirmalya collection during the festivalA total of 613 nirmalya kalash and 838 nirmalya vehicles were deployed at various immersion locations The civic body said 93426 metric tonnes of nirmalya had been collected by 4 pm on September 26The BMC thanked public Ganesh mandals devotees citizens volunteers Mumbai Police and various government and semigovernment agencies for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth conduct of the immersion festivities