Hyderabad, Aug 27 (PTI) The nine-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations began with devotional fervour and gaiety across Telangana on Wednesday.
Lakhs of Lord Ganesha idols in various sizes and forms have been installed for worship in Hyderabad and all other towns and villages in the state.
The devotees visited temples and offered prayers at homes on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, known as Vinayaka Chavithi in Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Despite rain, the Monda Market here witnessed heavy rush of devotees to buy Ganesh idols, flowers, fruits and puja material.
The major attraction of the Ganesh Chaturthi in the state has been the giant-sized Ganesh idol installed at the pandal at Khairatabad in Hyderabad.
This year, a 69-ft-tall idol has been installed at the Khairatabad pandal. It has been named ‘Viswa Santhi Maha Sakthi Ganapati’, wishing peace and happiness all over the world, organisers said.
The government and police made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma offered prayers at the Khairatabad pandal. Thousands of devotees visited the Khairatabad pandal on Wednesday evening.
Several voluntary organisations distributed clay Ganesha idols in the state capital in the run-up to the festival to promote eco-friendly festivities.
At Kachiguda, a vibrantly decorated pandal drew large crowds with its unique ‘Operation Sindoor’ theme. The centerpiece was the idol of Lord Ganesha mounted on a missile launcher.
“We have been creating such thematic pandals for the last five years to showcase the pride of our country,” an organiser told PTI Videos.
The organisers had set up pandals modelled on Chandrayan mission in the past.
The idols installed across the state for worship would be immersed in water bodies following the nine-day festivities.
Thousands of idols would be immersed in the Hussain Sagar lake and other lakes and tanks in Hyderabad.
The Governor, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar and leaders of all major parties wished devotees on the occasion.
The CM directed officials to take appropriate measures in view of the rainfall in the state. He instructed them to ensure the safety of devotees at pandals, urging that all precautions be taken to prevent hazards from electrical wires.
Five people were electrocuted when a chariot touched overhead electricity wires during a Sri Krishna Janmashtami procession in the Ramanthapur area of Hyderabad recently.
The Electricity department officials have advised devotees to steer clear of dangling wires and also notify the electricity staff if they spot such wires. PTI SJR SJR ROH
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