About 2,500 Ganesh idols waited in line for immersion
A crane immersing a Ganesh idol in Foreshore estate on Sunday. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: In the cabin of his hydraulic crane on Srinivasapuram beach, crane operator J.Rampreet (41) looks perplexed. It was half past four in the evening and the crane operators reckon it will be a real long day at the office.
“I think this will go on until at least 10.30 pm,” said G. Shanmugam, the other operator who was standing on the machine issuing hand signals to Rampreet to facilitate operations. The two of them started work around noon on Sunday, when a majority of the 2,500 odd Vinayaka idols in the city were slotted for immersion.
The routine can be such that an operator wishes these manoeuvres run on autopilot. A truck carrying the huge idols comes to the slotted point a few feet away from the crane.
Rampreet lowers the jib and the rope slings from the hook are tied to the idol. In a semi circular motion, the boom of the crane rotates over hordes of people sitting on the beach and drops the idol into the water. The whole act takes about five minutes. It's just that there is no breathing space before the next idol is ready for its dip in the Bay of Bengal.
The cranes belonging to Octopus Marine Company are sourced by the city police from the Chennai port each year. A few meters away, a woman inspector arbitrates in a fight between two youngsters. “Vandhiya, Kondadniya, Poniya nu irukkanum (Come, celebrate and leave),” she warns them sternly. City Police said that they have deployed their maximum strength to ensure a peaceful procession.
The vans carrying idols are numbered according to the police station limits and a policeman accompanies each van. “The procession started as early as 10 am this time as more groups had registered. Apart from our regular force, we also put Quick Response Teams in our Gypsy vehicles,” a senior police officer said.
Shanmugam's guess might very well prove true. All one could see were trucks and load vans carrying the idols of Lord Vinayaka right through Karumariamman street leading to Santhome High road and far beyond. Traffic on Santhome high road towards Adyar was completely blocked for the procession.
The revelry gives a feeling of watching the same movie with a different cast year after year. Drum rolls, slogans, youngsters and elders alike gyrating to drumbeats, curious foreign tourists with huge cameras, small clay idols littering the beach while their colossal counterparts are getting a dip in the sea all made an appearance this year too with the latest addition this year being the inevitable 'Selfies with Lord Ganesha'.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
