Chennai: Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations cannot be complete without the grand immersion procession, which has become synonymous with warmth and amity among all sections. With the festival fast approaching, the Hindu Munnani— a major driving force behind the Chathurthi procession and ‘Visarjan’ (immersion) has appealed to the authorities not to restrict the number of Ganesh idols to be installed or taken in a procession for immersion.
“We have been asked not to keep the idols for a long duration in view of Bakrid on Sept. 2. And all idols of Lord Ganesh that would be kept for puja in public places by us should be immersed at an earlier date,” says T. Elango, general secretary of Hindu Munnani.
Wondering if the police were attempting to create a sense of insecurity among the people, he said “the Hindus never objected to Muslims celebrating Id nor have they objected to Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations. Let them celebrate as per their custom and tradition and let us also celebrate our festival in a grand manner.”
Nearly 35 years ago, the Hindu Munnani installed a three-feet idol of Lord Ganesha at Triplicane, here, for public worship and organised an immersion function in a modest manner. Gradually it saw huge crowds in attendance for the puja and prayers as the years rolled by. “We use papier-mâché to make the idols and natural colouring agents to embellish the images,” a Hindu Munnani senior said.
