Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganpati fever grips Maharashtra with grand processions and prayers

The annual Ganesh festival kicked off in the state of Maharashtra with great fervor and enthusiasm, marking the homecoming of the beloved deity, Lord Ganesh, the embodiment of prosperity and wisdom.

Throughout the state, devotees have installed idols of Lord Ganesh in their homes and ornate pandals, ushering in a 10-day celebration filled with grandeur and jubilation.

The roots of this public celebration trace back to the 1890s when nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his associates saw it as a powerful means to rally the masses.

Devotees thronged markets bustling with vibrant displays of flowers, sweets, and puja essentials. Idols of Lord Ganesh, sculpted in various captivating forms and sizes, graced numerous homes and pandals across Mumbai, each adorned with intricate decorations inspired by diverse themes, ranging from the Chandrayaan-3 launch to Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir.

There were curbs on movement of vehicles placed from September 19 to September 29 across the city, as per the advisory.

Sharing the official notification about the traffic restriction on different parts of the city, Mumbai Traffic Police tweeted, “To avoid traffic congestion during Ganeshotsav celebrations during September 19th to 29th, following traffic arrangements have been made in Mumbai City. Citizens are requested to follow the revised traffic arrangements.”

As per the notification, there will be a complete restriction on the movement of all the heavy vehicles and private buses in south Mumbai on September 21, 24, 26 and 29. Heavy vehicles will be allowed to move in South Mumbai on other dates till September 29 between 12 midnight to 7 AM.

Further, the advisory stated that there will be restrictions on the movement of these vehicles for the idol immersion, from 10 AM on September 28 to 6 AM on September 29.

There will also be complete restruction on any heavy vehicle or private bus movement between 11 AM to 1 AM on September 20, 23 and 25.

However, all the private buses entering or leaving Mumbai including the vehicles, which are exempted from the curbs, will only be parked at their given private owned spaces or any other rented spaces.

As per the advisory, the vehicles engaged in essential services like those supplying vegetables, milk, bakery products, drinking water, petroleum products and ambulances will remain exempt from the traffic curbs.

The government vehicles and school buses will be exempted from the restrictions.

Additionally, to avoid any law and order situation during the celebrations, over 13,750 police personnel including 11,726 constables, 2,024 officers from sub inspector to assistant commissioner ranks and 15 deputy commissioners have been deployed in the city.