Thousands flood streets of Hubballi to bid adieu to lord Ganesha

On Friday evening, Hubballi's Central Business District was packed with thousands of people as they gathered to witness the grand and colorful immersion processions of Ganesha idols, marking the end of the 12-day Ganesha festival festivities. Hundreds danced to the music of powerful sound systems, while thousands stood along roadsides, balconies, and building terraces to see the spectacle. The processions began in the afternoon, but the Ganesha pandals started preparations for the final rituals in the morning.

Devout Hindus joined the final maha mangalarati and other ceremonies with great devotion. Post-rituals, auctions for puja materials and offerings made to Lord Ganesha took place, with some people making bids for these items. The two colossal idols, Hubballi Ka Raja at Dajibanpet and Hubballi Ka Maharaja at Maratha Galli, each around 25 feet tall, were the main attractions of the 11-day celebrations.

Despite restrictions on sound systems, revelers still attended the festivities. In some Ganesha pandals, traditional percussion instruments like dollu and jaggalige, as well as folk troupes, replaced high-decibel sound systems. Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and senior officials assisted the processions, with additional police personnel present at sensitive locations.

Muslim communities welcomed the processions at designated spots, and religious leaders, elected officials, and officers participated in the inauguration organized by the Federation of Ganesha Mandals.

However, the ongoing delayed work on the elevated road at Kittur Chennamma Circle delayed the processions. Due to the height of the idols, they were taken out for immersion on an alternate route finalized by the civic and police authorities.