By IANS
Mumbai : India’s commercial and entertainment capital Mumbai Saturday laid down the red carpet to welcome its favourite deity, Lord Ganesh, as hundreds of mandals across the megapolis and thousands of households ushered in the idols of the elephant-headed god of prosperity on the first day of the Ganesh festival.
Thousands of Ganesh idols of different shapes and décor were seen travelling atop taxies, vans and even on suburban trains, the city’s lifeline, as devotees installed statues at home on Ganesh Chaturthi, the first day of the 10-day festival.
“Although there was no particular muhurat (auspicious hour) for the installation ritual Saturday, idols were installed throughout the day across the city amidst chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Moriya’,” said Dinesh Wagle, a resident of Vashi in Navi Mumbai.
Modaks, rice dumplings with sweet stuffing that is Ganesh’s favourite dish, were prepared in city households and offered to the idols.
Devotees thronged the Siddhi Vinayak temple as well as other Ganesh temples across the city.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have made elaborate security arrangement in view of both the Hindu festival as well as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which began Friday. The two festivals are coinciding after a gap of 20 years.
To control crowds and avoid any untoward incidents, big mandals – makeshift Ganesh worship spots in neighbourhood – have been asked to install digital metal detectors, hand-held metal detectors, as well as door-famed detectors. They have also been asked to install close-circuit TV cameras for surveillance over crowds, said Mumbai Police Commissioner D.N. Jadhav.
“Elaborate arrangements have been made for the festivities and the immersions (on the last day of the festival). Traffic diversions on the fifth, sixth and seventh and the last day of the 10-day festival will be posted on the Mumbai police website,” Jadhav told IANS Saturday.
The police chief said Coast Guard personnel along with navy divers will man immersions points at the seashore. Surveillance towers have been set up at the main immersions points across the city and first-aid kiosks will be set up for devotees.
“We will also deploy mobile vans with CCTV cameras and plainclothes sleuths from the city police’s intelligence units will mingle with the devotees to keep tabs on troubl