Khairatabad Ganesh immersion 2026: 69-foot idol immerses in Hussain Sagar
Synopsis
Hyderabad's 69-foot Khairatabad Bada Ganesh completed its annual journey — a two-kilometre, five-hour procession — before being lowered into Hussain Sagar on 25 September, closing 12 days of festivities. The celebration, rooted in a nearly 70-year tradition that began with a one-foot idol in 1954, also saw disqualified MLA D. Nagender dancing in the procession just a day after the Supreme Court dismissed his defection appeal.
Key Takeaways
The 69-foot 'Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati' idol was immersed in Hussain Sagar lake on 25 September 2026 .
The procession covered roughly two kilometres in over five hours , passing through Telephone Bhavan and the Secretariat before reaching NTR Marg .
Police Commissioner V.C.
Sajjanar personally supervised security; the GHMC and the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee managed logistics.
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla offered the first prayers on 14 September ; Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy and ministers also performed puja.
The tradition dates to 1954 , when a one-foot idol was installed; the idol has grown by one foot each year except during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 .
Former Khairatabad MLA D.
Nagender — recently disqualified for defection, with his Supreme Court petition dismissed just a day earlier — participated in the procession.
Hyderabad's iconic Khairatabad Bada Ganesh — a 69-foot 'Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati' idol — was immersed in Hussain Sagar lake on Friday, 25 September, bringing the curtain down on 12 days of celebrations amid festivity and large turnouts. Thousands of devotees lined the banks of the lake at NTR Marg in the heart of the city to witness one of Hyderabad's most-awaited annual rituals.
The Procession and Immersion
The eco-friendly idol was mounted on a specially designed Tusker vehicle with the assistance of a massive crane early in the morning. The procession then wound its way through Telephone Bhavan and the Secretariat before arriving at NTR Marg — a distance of roughly two kilometres that took the convoy more than five hours to cover, reflecting the enormous scale of the event. Once at the lake, the idol was lowered into the water using a large crane in what has become an engineering feat in its own right.
A large number of devotees joined the Shobayatra en route, with the procession drawing celebratory crowds throughout its path. The immersion itself, a highlight of the annual Ganesh Utsav festivities, passed off smoothly without any untoward incident.
Security and Administrative Arrangements
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar personally supervised arrangements, visiting the Khairatabad Ganesh mandap ahead of the procession. The Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee, in coordination with the police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), made elaborate preparations to manage the massive crowds and ensure the safe transport of the towering idol. Officials described the annual exercise as one of the city's most logistically demanding public events.
VIP Participation and Political Subplot
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla had offered the first prayers at the Khairatabad Ganesh on 14 September. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, ministers, and other dignitaries also performed puja at the idol during the festival. State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar offered 'silk robes' on behalf of the state government.
Notably, former Khairatabad MLA D. Nagender participated in the immersion procession and was spotted dancing joyfully with women police officers to the tune of 'Aya Sher' — a song from the recently released film 'The Paradise'. His presence drew attention given that the Telangana High Court recently disqualified him for defection, a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court just a day before the immersion after it dismissed his appeal challenging the High Court order.
A Festival With Nearly 70 Years of History
The Khairatabad Ganesh tradition stretches back nearly 70 years. Organisers installed a modest one-foot idol when the celebration began in 1954, and the height has grown by one foot each year since — except during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when the customary scale was scaled back to a one-foot idol despite plans for a 66-foot installation. This year's theme, 'Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati', with a new avatar and visual design, continued the tradition of giving the idol a fresh identity every year.
With the immersion complete, Hyderabad's grand Ganesh Utsav season draws to a close for another year, and organisers are expected to begin planning the 2027 theme in the months ahead.
Point of View
GHMC, and a committee coordinating for months. The footnote this year is D. Nagender: a politician freshly stripped of his seat dancing in the procession a day after his Supreme Court bid failed, which is either defiance or a masterclass in public optics. More broadly, the festival's near-70-year scale progression — one foot per year — is an unusual institutional continuity in a city that has otherwise transformed beyond recognition, and its eco-friendly pivot this year reflects the growing regulatory pressure on Ganesh immersions across Telangana.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Khairatabad Ganesh immersed in 2026?
The Khairatabad Bada Ganesh was immersed in Hussain Sagar lake on Friday, 25 September 2026, after 12 days of celebrations. The procession began in the morning and took over five hours to cover the roughly two-kilometre route to NTR Marg.
How tall is the Khairatabad Ganesh idol in 2026?
The 2026 idol stands 69 feet tall and is themed 'Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati'. The tradition began in 1954 with a one-foot idol, and the height has increased by one foot each year — except in 2020, when it was reduced to one foot due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
What is the history of the Khairatabad Ganesh festival?
The Khairatabad Ganesh has a history of nearly 70 years. Organisers first installed a one-foot idol in 1954, and the height has grown by one foot annually since then, making it one of Hyderabad's most distinctive and long-running cultural traditions.
Who attended the Khairatabad Ganesh immersion procession in 2026?
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, and several ministers performed puja during the 12-day festival. Former Khairatabad MLA D. Nagender also participated in the immersion procession, drawing attention as he had been disqualified for defection and his Supreme Court challenge had been dismissed just a day earlier.
How was the Khairatabad Ganesh immersion managed?
The Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee coordinated with the police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to manage the event. Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar personally supervised arrangements at the mandap, and a large crane was used both to load the eco-friendly idol onto the specially designed Tusker vehicle and to lower it into Hussain Sagar.
