Ratnagiri bids tearful farewell to Ganesha amid drums and chants
Ratnagiri district immersed over 1.69 lakh Ganesh idols amid drums, chants and tight security on the final day of the one-and-a-half-day festival.
Ganesh idols were installed with great devotion and enthusiasm across Ratnagiri district on Ganesh Chaturthi. The arrival of Ganesha in homes and public mandals created a festive atmosphere throughout the district, with every household making special preparations to welcome him.
This year the district saw the installation of a total of 1,69,538 household and 126 public Ganesh idols, taking the total to 1,69,664 idols worshipped by residents during the festival. The fragrance of incense and lamps and the sound of aartis could be heard from every home, with families coming together for the puja.
After a day and a half of hospitality, devotees arranged for immersion at wells and lakes on Tuesday. Large crowds gathered at the Mandavi, Bhatye and Pandhara Samudra beaches to bid farewell to the idols. Footfall at all three beaches began in the morning and kept growing through the evening, with chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya" and "Mangalmurti Morya" echoing across the coastline.
Amid the beat of dhol-tasha, the scattering of gulal, and traditional aarti, devotees bid farewell to Ganesha. Local administration and police ensured security and a smooth immersion process at the beaches. As they bid him farewell, devotees prayed for his return next year. The day-and-a-half-long Ganeshotsav in Ratnagiri district thus concluded peacefully and with enthusiasm.
In Chiplun town and taluka, the day-and-a-half Ganesha idols installed in homes were given an emotional send-off on Tuesday amid devotion. Chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya" echoed across various parts of the town. To the beat of dhol-tasha, the scattering of gulal and traditional instruments, devotees bid farewell to Ganesha. Devotees became active in the evening for the immersion of the idols, which were carried to the immersion sites on decorated vehicles as well as by hand.
Before immersion, families performed puja, aarti and offered naivedya to the idol, praying for a prosperous return next year. Large crowds were seen at Bazarpul, the Khand Bavshevadi river, the Vashishthi river near Bahadurshekhnaka, and the Paag river in the town, with queues of devotees forming at all these spots in the evening for immersion. The local administration, municipal council and other agencies made the necessary arrangements for the convenience of devotees, and police security was also deployed.
