Belagavi Ganesh immersion procession ends after nearly 42 hours

Belagavi’s Ganesh immersion procession concluded around noon on Sunday after continuing for nearly 42 hours, in what organisers described as one of the longest such processions in the city’s history. The public procession began on the evening of September 25 after a customary puja and aarti at Hutatma Chowk. The first immersion took place at about 3.30 p.m.

that day, while the final idol, belonging to the Belagavi City Corporation, was immersed at Kapileshwar on Sunday. Police estimated that 1,056 public Ganesha mandals had installed idols across the city. Most took part in 11-day celebrations, while some completed immersion on the fifth day, known as Ashtami.

Others waited until Ananth Chaturdashi. Large crowds gathered along the route, including at Dharmaveer Sambhaji Circle and other prominent locations. Young people danced to DJ music, while traditional Dhol-Tasha, Dhvaja Pathak, Dollu and Kolata performances also formed part of the procession.

More than 4,000 police personnel were deployed for security and traffic management. Fire and emergency teams, civic staff, lifeguards, earthmover operators and other personnel also remained on duty for prolonged periods. Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam had earlier appealed to mandals to keep the procession to about 24 hours.

The event ended peacefully without major untoward incidents, although the report noted the accidental drowning of a youth. Long queues and traffic pressure were linked to the limited capacity of immersion ponds, particularly those near Kapileshwar. Ganesha Maha Mandal chairman Vikas Kalaghatagi called for more immersion ponds in the city.