Ganesh Utsav Samithi Says Preparations Underway for Sept 25 Mass Immersion
Hyderabad, Sept 10 (TNT): The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) on Thursday said preparations were nearing completion for the 47th Samuhik Ganesh Utsav, with the mass immersion of idols scheduled for September 25 on the occasion of Anantha Chaturdashi.
Speaking at a press conference here, Samithi President G Raghava Reddy and General Secretary Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar said installation of Ganesh idols would commence from September 14 and appealed to devotees not to be confused about the immersion date.
Preparatory arrangements have been underway for the past three months in coordination with the police and civic authorities, they said, urging greater field-level coordination among the GHMC, police, traffic authorities and other government agencies.
More than 150 designated immersion locations, including Vinayak Sagar, Saroornagar and Kapra Lake, are being readied along with around 110 baby ponds. The Samithi expects more than 50 lakh people to participate in the celebrations and sought adequate civic and traffic arrangements to ensure safe and smooth immersion, they said.
They appealed to authorities to facilitate traditional devotional and cultural programmes within the applicable rules and urged against unnecessary restrictions on pad bands and sound systems.
It also encouraged the use of locally produced goods, including khadi, and greater participation of local artisans and traditional occupations, highlighting the economic activity generated by the festival.
They expressed concern over the conduct of a GHMC coordination meeting and the absence of a Hyderabad Police Commissioner-level coordination meeting so far.
They said the scale of the festival required stronger coordination among the concerned agencies.
They said immersion at Vinayak Sagar, Saroornagar, Ammenpur and Kapra Lakes would take place as usual.
They also condemned what it described as the alleged physical attack on its vice-president Sri Govind Rathi by Hyderabad Police in connection with the Aagaman processions at Sultan Bazar.
The celebrations would include devotional and cultural programmes associated with Vande Mataram, Telangana Vimochana Dinotsavam, Sant Ravidas and Pujya Ashok Singh, they said.
They appealed to devotees, organisers, volunteers, public representatives, police and civic officials to cooperate for peaceful, disciplined and safe celebrations.
Other office-bearers of the Samithi also participated in the conference.
TNT TS
