11-day public celebration of Ganesha festival begins in Hubballi-Dharwad

The 11-day Ganesha festival festivities kicked off in Hubballi-Dharwad on Monday, with thousands of Ganesha Mandals installing idols of various forms and sizes with great religious enthusiasm across the twin cities. Processions carrying the idols, including some of the largest in the region like the 24-feet-tall 'Hubballi Ka Raja' and the 25-feet-tall 'Hubballi Ka Maharaja', were taken out both during the day and at night.

The processions were led mostly by vehicle-mounted sound systems followed by enthusiastic revellers dancing and some by folk troupes such as 'dollu kunita' and 'jaggalige'. The police ensured robust security arrangements were in place along the route. The Ganesha pandals in Hubballi-Dharwad are a major draw, attracting crowds from Dharwad and neighboring districts who travel in groups to witness the grand spectacle.

Special attractions include skits on mythological characters and idols designed on various themes. An idol of Lord Ganesha with a saffron flag was installed at Idgah Maidan adjacent to Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi, a practice that began in 2022 following a permit from the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and a ruling by the High Court.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and other legislators visited the pandal later in the day and participated in bhajan singing. The Hubballi-Dharwad police, for the first time, launched a website to help visitors navigate the Ganesha pandals, providing details of the pandals, parking information, and the shortest routes to their chosen sites.

While the festival lasts 11 days in Hubballi, it concludes on the ninth day in Dharwad, with a series of religious and cultural events taking place throughout the celebrations.