Grand Ganesh Immersion Processions Mark Festive Finale Across Telangana

Ganesh immersion ceremonies were held across Telangana on Friday as the state brought the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities to a grand close. The celebrations, which began on September 14, saw thousands of devotees take part in processions and carry idols to Hussainsagar and other lakes and water bodies across Hyderabad and other parts of the state.

In Hyderabad, elaborately decorated vehicles carrying Ganesh idols moved towards immersion points amid large crowds. Authorities deployed extensive security arrangements to ensure the processions remained peaceful and to regulate traffic and crowds. Around 30,000 police personnel were deployed across the city, while more than 10,000 CCTV cameras were used for surveillance.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar inspected arrangements at Tank Bund and reviewed security measures. Police said immersions had been taking place peacefully since the third day of the festivities, with the major processions scheduled to conclude on Friday.

The 69-foot Khairatabad Ganesh idol was among the biggest attractions of this year's celebrations. Installed as the ‘Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapathi’, the idol drew devotees from different parts of the city. The procession began at Khairatabad and passed through Telephone Bhavan, Iqbal Minar and Telangana Talli junction before reaching Crane No. 5 on NTR Marg. The idol was subsequently immersed in Hussainsagar with the help of a heavy-duty crane.

Police also relied on technology to monitor the massive crowds. Twenty-four advanced drones and nearly 100 high-rise cameras were deployed along key procession routes. The surveillance system helped authorities assess crowd density and automatically count idols arriving for immersion. Police personnel equipped with binoculars and wireless communication devices were positioned on high-rise buildings.

Meanwhile, the Balapur Ganesh laddu auction once again attracted attention after the 21-kg laddu fetched a record Rs 39 lakh. Vanasthalipuram-Sahebnagar resident Sama Praneeth Reddy won the auction, paying Rs 4 lakh more than last year's Rs 35 lakh bid.

The Balapur laddu auction tradition began in 1994 with a bid of Rs 450 and has grown into one of Hyderabad's best-known Ganesh festival traditions. Devotees believe that receiving the laddu, which is offered to the deity and kept for nine days, brings prosperity, good health and good fortune.