Ganesh festivities reach the final lap

Hyderabad: The final Ganesh immersion processions from different parts of the city, including the 63-foot-tall Bada Ganesh of Khairatabad, are moving towards the Hussain Sagar lake. Tight surveillance, round-the-clock vigil by CCTV cameras and drones are watching the processions very closely, and all measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful procession, said Police and civic officials. Despite the high court orders prohibiting the immersion of PoP idols in Hussain Sagar Lake, the immersion continued without any holds in the lake.

Meanwhile, the Tank Bund, NTR Marg, PVNR Marg, and the surrounding roads are filled with a sea of devotees to bid farewell to the elephant god. Women and children in large numbers have also joined the celebrations on the tank bund.

This year, Richmond Villa at Bandlaguda Jagir near Rajendra Nagar has caught everybody’s attention with one of the highest-ever Ganesh Laddu auctions at Rs 1.26 Cr. The residents said that the auction amount would be used for charity as they have been doing for the past few years.

Meanwhile, security remained tightened in the old city in view of the Mild Un Nabi celebrations. The organisers had already called off the Milad Juloos, but the celebrations were happening indoors. Paramilitary forces have taken over the Charminar and other sensitive locations across the old city.

The Bada Ganesh, which started from Khairatabad at around 7 a.m., has already reached the NTR marg and is heading towards Crane No 4 for the final touchdown.

Around 40,000 big idols are set for immersion in Hussain Sagar, and more than 4 lakh devotees are expected to visit Tank Bund to witness the immersion.