The city of Mumbai, along with other parts of Maharashtra, came alive on Saturday as devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, marking the conclusion of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festivities.
Despite heavy rainfall and a bomb threat received on Friday, the spirit of the celebrations remained undeterred.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025: Ten Days of Devotion and Joy
This year’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations saw lakhs of devotees thronging pandals and bringing idols home. The rituals, prayers, and cultural festivities continued for 10 days, with immersions taking place on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day as per tradition.
The festival culminated with grand processions on Anant Chaturdashi, as devotees accompanied the idols to immersion sites, singing bhajans, dancing to the beat of dhol-tasha, and showering flowers on the departing deity.
Iconic Lalbaugcha Raja Draws Massive Crowds
Central Mumbai’s Lalbaug, home to the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, witnessed huge gatherings as final prayers were offered before the idol began its immersion journey.
Devotees gathered near Shroff Building to witness the traditional Pushpavrishti (flower shower), a symbolic gesture of bidding farewell.
The processions of other well-known mandals like Tejukaya and Ganesh Gully also began on Friday, with visuals showing streets filled with dancing devotees, music, and chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya.”
Rains Fail to Dampen Festive Fervour
Mumbai and its adjoining areas experienced heavy rainfall in the lead-up to the festival and even during visarjan processions. Yet, devotees braved the downpour, maintaining the celebratory atmosphere.
Bomb Threat Creates Panic, Police Act Swiftly
On Friday, Mumbai Police received a threat call claiming that 34 vehicles carrying “human bombs” with 400 kg of RDX were planted across the city. Authorities quickly acted on the alert, tracing the call to Ashwini Kumar, a 51-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Police revealed that the suspect made the call as an act of revenge to frame his friend in Bihar. The situation was brought under control, and security was tightened across key immersion sites to ensure public safety.
Grand Celebrations Across Maharashtra and Beyond
While Mumbai led the celebrations, cities like Pune and Nagpur witnessed equally grand processions. Pune’s famous Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati idol was taken out in a spectacular procession, with thousands joining in. In Nagpur, a mangal aarti was performed at Nagpur Cha Raja before the immersion began.
Hyderabad’s 69-foot-tall Khairatabad Ganesh idol also began its visarjan journey, drawing massive crowds.
A Grand Goodbye, Until Next Year
The visarjan processions symbolize the cycle of creation and dissolution, with devotees chanting fervently, “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!” (Come soon next year!).
As the idols are immersed in water bodies across the state, the festival concludes with a promise of Bappa’s return next year, keeping alive the spirit of unity, devotion, and celebration.
