City bids adieu to 'Bappa' with revelry and devotion

MUMBAI: The city bid adieu to its favourite deity Lord Ganesha with pomp, revelry and devotion on Tuesday in a largely peaceful immersions bringing the ten-day Ganeshotsav to a close.

Intermittent rains did not dampen the spirits of thousands of Mumbaikars who danced with abandon, threw 'gulal' in the air and burst firecrackers as they accompanied idols of Ganesha to the 80-odd immersion points in the city on the occasion of Ananta Chaturdashi, the last day for the immersion of the idols.

Over 400 community (sarvajanik) Ganesh idols which tend to be large in size were immersed across the city till the evening and many more are expected to meet the sea as the high tide is scheduled at 2330 hours.

Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R R Patil who visited the main venue Girgaum Chowpatty said the immersions have been largely peaceful throughout the state.
   
Twenty five kids were lost in the large crowds at the sea front while the police and other organisations were successful in handing over 20 of them to their guardians. There were however, no cases of drowning till 1900 hours.

The famous `Lalbaughcha Raja', also began its journey from its abode in Central Mumbai to the Girgaum chowpatty and is expected to be immersed early tomorrow morning.

Security in the city was tight with about 40,000 police personnel being deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. CCTVs were also installed on seafronts with major traffic to keep a constant watch.