Mumbai comes alive with Ganesh immersion processions amid chants, gulal and flower showers

MUMBAI: (Sep 25) Mumbai’s air reverberated with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha on Friday as immersion processions rolled through the city, with devotees bidding an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesh on the final day of the festival.

After traditional puja and aarti in the presence of large numbers of devotees at ‘sarvajanik’ (community) Ganesh pandals, immersion processions of several prominent mandals began with energetic chants, traditional music and showers of gulal and flower petals. Several other processions are scheduled to begin later in the day.

The 12-day Ganpati festival culminates on Anant Chaturdashi, when devotees bid farewell to the elephant-headed god by immersing idols in natural water bodies or artificial ponds.