Navi Mumbai: A total of 8,573 Ganesh idols were immersed at as many as 189 immersion spots across Navi Mumbai on Anant Chaturdashi, Friday, with Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation making safety, sanitation and environmental arrangements for ceremonies that continued until 5.30 am on Saturday. The event, which began early afternoon on Friday, remained peaceful. The idols comprised 8,125 household and 448 public Ganesh idols.Of the total, 1,420 were made of shadu clay, according to NMMC.Immersion facilities included 22 natural lakes, 11 sites covering newly inducted 14 villages and 156 artificial ponds. Citizens immersed idols up to six feet tall in artificial ponds in accordance with a High Court order and the civic body’s appeal. Ghansoli node recorded the highest number with 2,081 household and 33 public idols immersed. Koparkhairane recorded 1,128 household and 111 public idols, while Belapur recorded 1,257 household and 43 public idols.Nerul recorded 981 household and 38 public idols; Vashi 958 household and 105 public idols, Airoli 797 household and 19 public idols, Turbhe 399 household and 72 public idols and Digha, 370 household and 24 public idols.Another 154 household and three public idols were immersed in 14 villages.Mayor Sujata Patil, deputy mayor Dashrath Bhagat and civic commissioner Kailas Shinde showered flowers on departing idols from a platform at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Vashi.Volunteers were deployed at all artificial ponds, while lifeguards and fire brigade personnel were stationed at natural sites. Police maintained law and order, and CCTV cameras were installed at natural immersion sites.Rafts, forklifts and cranes were provided where required, with special arrangements at the retention pond in Koparkhairane Sector 19.The immersion sites also had barricades, lighting, generators, drinking water, first aid and medical facilities, said NMMC. Tables were provided for farewell aartis and concluding pujas, while reception and information counters helped manage devotees. Separate containers and vehicles were provided to collect flowers, garlands, durva, shami leaves and decorative material. About 10 tonnes and 950 kg of floral waste was transported to NMMC’s Turbhe facility for processing into fertiliser.Citizens who installed shadu clay idols were presented paper bags and “Friend of Environment and Cleanliness” certificates. NMMC also encouraged residents and public groups to upload photographs or videos of their Ganesh celebrations on the bappa.org portal under the “Gatha Ganesh Katha” initiative, linked to efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the festival.
