Will Mumbai Bid a Grand Farewell to Ganapati Bappa?

Mumbai, Sep 6 (NationPress) Millions of devotees gathered at Girgaum Chowpatty and various immersion sites on Saturday to witness the spectacular finale of the Ganesh festival with Ganapati Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi, resonating with chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya’ (Return soon next year).

The city of Mumbai is alive with processions from prominent Ganesh Mandals, who parade through the streets accompanied by dhol tasha beats, gulal (colored powder), and fireworks, braving the rain to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha. Additionally, devotees are visiting 70 natural sites and approximately 290 artificial lakes designated for the immersion of Lord Ganesha.

Processions from eminent Ganeshotsav mandals, especially in Lalbaug, Tejukaya, Ganesh Gully, Chinchpoklicha Chintamani, and Mumbaicha Raja, commenced their journey towards the coastal regions around 1 PM. The traditional “Pushpvrishti” (flower shower) at Shroff Building on Lalbaugcha Raja, delivered via a Rafale aircraft, drew massive crowds.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with other ministers and senior officials from the government, police, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have assembled at Girgaum Chowpatty to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha.

The Mumbai Police have deployed over 21,000 personnel, including 12 Additional Commissioners, 40 DCPs, 3,000 officers, and 18,000 constables, supported by 14 SRPF companies and 4 CAPF units, including a women’s CRPF battalion.

For the first time, AI-driven tools are being implemented for route management, featuring an AI control room at Girgaon Chowpatty and QR codes for mandal vehicles to monitor crowd flow and traffic in real-time.

More than 10,000 CCTV cameras and drones are actively monitoring the event, while private drone usage is prohibited. Traffic restrictions have been enforced, with road closures on vital routes including Padmashree Govardhan Bafna Chowk to Vinoli Junction and Navjeevan Junction to M Powell Junction, particularly in South Mumbai areas like Colaba. Citizens are encouraged to use public transport to mitigate traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, the BMC, under the direction of municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, has assigned additional municipal commissioners and approximately 10,000 employees to ensure a smooth and incident-free immersion of Lord Ganesha. There are 245 control rooms operating, while the BMC has established Nirmalya Kalash, observation towers, electrical systems, ambulances, and various facilities.

The civic body has deployed 1,175 steel plates to prevent vehicles from becoming stuck at intersections and 66 German rafts for the immersion of smaller idols, alongside 2,178 lifeguards and 56 motorboats.

In addition, the BMC has installed 6,188 floodlights and 138 searchlights in collaboration with BEST. About 538 lifeguards are stationed at immersion points to prevent drowning incidents, while the BMC’s MyBMC WhatsApp Chatbot (8999-22-8999) and Google Maps provide information on immersion site locations.

Mumbai Police and BMC have urged citizens to refrain from spreading rumors and to adhere to safety guidelines, especially keeping children away from deep waters. They have also emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness and discipline at the immersion sites, staying vigilant in crowds, and acting responsibly. Citizens are cautioned to be aware of 'blue button jellyfish' and 'sting rays' during the immersion process.

The BMC has established a medical room and 108 ambulances in case of emergencies such as fish bites.

In the lead-up to the forthcoming BMC elections, both ruling and opposition parties have set up posts at various locations to distribute water and refreshments to devotees. Leaders and party members have been actively participating in the processions.

Some are seen offering Mumbai’s famous Wada Pav to police and civic personnel, while others have set up medical assistance cells to support the citizens.