Belagavi: The grand Ganesha idol immersion procession in Belagavi, which started at 5pm on Saturday, concluded around 3am on Monday, marking the end of a 32-hour celebration — briefly paused only due to the lunar eclipse. Despite intermittent showers, thousands of enthusiastic youths danced to traditional instruments and DJ beats, while lakhs of devotees from Belagavi and neighbouring districts gathered to witness the vibrant spectacle.The immersion procession, involving more than 380 idols — including several massive ones — was a big challenge to the authorities. As of late Sunday night, over 20 idols were still waiting for immersion at the Kapileshwar temple. The idols were immersed across various lakes in the city. The immersion points included old and new lakes at Kapileshwar temple, Jakkeri Honda at Indraprastha Nagar, Kanabargi lake, Old Belagavi lake, Fort lake, Lal Talav at Anagol, and Majagaon lake.To ensure smooth proceedings, more than 4,000 police personnel were deployed across the city. In line with Supreme Court guidelines, police attempted to control the use of DJ music and firecrackers, though compliance remained limited. For the first time, police also arranged designated parking at 17 locations across the city and restricted the entry of heavy vehicles to ease traffic congestion.However, some sections of the public expressed dissatisfaction over the extended duration of the procession. Some blamed the delay on the slow movement of mandals, while others felt the immersion should have been completed before the eclipse, which is traditionally considered inauspicious. There were also reports of a few idols being immersed during the eclipse.This year’s Ganeshotsava pandals attracted huge crowds with their innovative themes and giant idols. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Belagavi branch, the 11-day festival generated an estimated turnover of Rs 1,200 crore in the district.
