11-day festivities conclude on a grand note in Hubballi

The 11-day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi festival concluded on grand note in Hubballi on Saturday with thousands of people of all age groups coming out in large numbers to participate in the immersion processions of Ganesh idols, which continued past midnight.

The rituals of bidding adieu to the elephant god began in the morning at hundreds of Ganesh pandals spread across the city, with devout Hindus participating with religious fervour in the final maha mangalarati and other rituals.

As has been the practice, post-rituals, auctions for the puja materials and the offerings made to lord Ganesh were held, with devout Hindus making huge bids for the same, even as volunteers were busy making arrangements to shift the idols to trailers and mounted high decibel sound systems and flood lights to the escort vehicles.

Like it was done last year, the Ganesh idols were moved out of the pandals post noon. Thousands of people came to watch the grand spectacle in the evening and stayed back till late night.

The major attractions of the Hubballi celebrations, the two of the gigantic idols of Ganesh, Hubballi Ka Raja at Dajibanpet and Hubballi Ka Maharaja at Marattha Galli measuring over 25 ft., attracted huge crowds as always.

At a few pandals, high decibel sound systems were replaced by traditional percussion instruments like dollu and jaggalige providing the music for the revellers. In fact, after switching off the DJ sound system at 10 p.m., it was the traditional percussion instruments and other folk troupes that added colour to the processions.

 Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar along with senior officials was assisted by various contingents of police personnel including Rapid Action Force in keeping an eye on the processions. This apart additional police personnel were deployed at strategic points to keep vigil over trouble mongers. The command centre also kept vigil through the surveillance cameras in the city.

Members of Muslim communities welcomed the processions at designated points. Religious heads, elected representatives and officers also took part in the formal inauguration organised by the federation of Ganesh mandals.

Although the ongoing work on elevated road at Kittur Chennamma Circle acted as a deterrent for the people participating in the celebrations, it did not prevent people from pouring in to watch the spectacle.