Green farewell: Ganesha idols immersed in artificial ponds

Lucknow: More than 4,000 idols of Lord Ganesha, including 650 on Thursday, were immersed in artificial ponds set up by Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) in the city during the 10-day celebrations.The eco-friendly immersion practice was introduced in 2019 following a high court order. This year, the LMC had constructed artificial ponds at JhuleLal Vatika, Kudia Ghat, Laxman Mela Ground and other spots. Devotees of all ages and backgrounds took out processions to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha, marking the end of the celebration that had commenced with Ganesh Chaturthi on September 19. They immersed the idols amid the beats of drums, chants and cheers. “The highest number of immersions (650) took place on Thursday. All the proceedings went smoothly,” said LMC executive engineer Puneet Kumar Ojha. However, despite the arrangements made by authorities for eco-friendly immersion, some devotees on the city outskirts immersed idols directly in the river. While some devotees praised the efforts of LMC others pointed out shortcomings. They said the artificial ponds were small and caused difficulties in immersion. They urged the LMC to construct larger ponds and also increase their numbers.A resident of Sitapur Road Dr Ashish Jaiswal, who came for immersion at Jhulelal Vatika, said: “We can uphold our tradition without harming Mother Nature through the eco-friendly immersion of Lord Ganesha. It was a great experience to be a part of this celebration.” Another devotee, Ankita Rawat of Indiranagar, who visited Jhule Lal Vatika, said: “The ponds are small, and we faced difficulties during the visarjan. LMC should consider building larger ponds and increasing their numbers. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience to be a part of this celebration.”

20 artificial immersion ponds prepared in city

Surat will prepare 20 artificial ponds for the immersion of Ganesha idols, with 12 already in use. Idols up to 5 feet tall will be immersed in the ponds, while larger ones will be sent to the sea. In Dumas, one crane will be used for immersion, while Hazira will have seven cranes and Magdalla will use boats. The city has also seen the installation of idols taller than the prohibited limit of 9 feet, causing concern among authorities. Similar initiatives are being taken in other cities like Berhampur and Nagpur to prevent pollution during the festival.

Over 80 artificial ponds set up in Delhi to prevent idol immersion in river

At least 83 artificial ponds have been set up in Delhi for the immersion of Ganesh Chaturthi idols this year. The district administration, temple trusts, and residents welfare associations have collaborated to create these ponds to prevent the immersion of idols in the Yamuna River. Civil defence volunteers will be present at all the ponds and ghats to ensure safety and to discourage idol immersion in the river. The initiative aims to provide convenience to devotees and protect the water quality of the Yamuna.

Baby ponds ignored, PoP idols immersed in Hyd lakes

Despite the efforts of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to revive artificial ponds for Ganesh idol immersion, idols continue to be immersed in lakes and water bodies in the city. There is a lack of awareness among the public about the designated artificial ponds, and environmentalists criticize the limited depth of these ponds. Other cities in India, such as Berhampur, Surat, and Nagpur, are also setting up artificial ponds for safe idol immersion to prevent pollution of lakes and water bodies.