69 Feet of Grandeur: Khairatabad Ganesh Ready for Darshan

Hyderabad’s iconic Khairatabad Ganesh is all set to welcome devotees as the city gears up for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Standing at 69 feet, this year’s idol has been designed as Sri Panchamukha Sankatahara Ganapati, continuing the tradition of making the Khairatabad installation one of the biggest attractions of the festival.

The idol-making work is nearing completion, and devotees will be allowed full access for darshan from Sunday, Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Samiti chairman Raju Kumar said. The organisers have also invited the Telangana Governor to attend the special puja to be conducted on the opening day.

Workers are currently removing the wooden supports used to secure the massive structure during its construction. The supports are being taken down in stages, after which the idol will be fully ready for public viewing.

Around 150 artisans from five states West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have worked on the giant idol, reflecting the scale and craftsmanship involved in the annual project.

The Khairatabad Ganesh has for decades been a major attraction during Hyderabad’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, drawing lakhs of devotees from across Telangana and beyond. The festival activities have already begun, with the ‘Aagamanam’ procession held on Friday attracting more than 10,000 devotees, according to the organisers.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated over 10 days in many parts of India, with devotees worshipping Lord Ganesha as the remover of obstacles and a symbol of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings. Elaborate idols are installed in homes and public spaces, followed by special prayers and cultural programmes.

The celebrations culminate with the immersion of Ganesha idols on the final day. At Khairatabad, the towering idol is expected to once again become a major pilgrimage point for devotees during the festival.