Hyderabad: Dhols, nagadas, flowers and funky masks took over the streets on Friday as Hyderabadis danced Bappa off. Immersion processions ran through the day, with the vigour showing no signs of letting up.From a vantage point near Hussain Sagar, cranes could be seen stationed on all sides of the lake, waiting. Immersions had begun as early as 9 am, and crowds were already lining up near Tank Bund to watch the processions roll in.The biggest draws of the day were the city’s two marquee idols. Thousands of eyes and cameras followed the 69-ft Khairatabad Bada Ganesh as its procession began at 9.50 am, a little later than scheduled as devotees thronged the pandal for a final darshan of the magnificent idol. It was immersed in Hussain Sagar at 2.47 pm.Not far behind was another star of Hyderabad’s Ganesh festival – the Balapur Ganesh. Its Shobha Yatra began around 9.37 am and took the idol on a 19-km journey through the city before it reached Hussain Sagar for immersion around 4.50 pm.Together with thousands of other idols that made their way to immersion points across the city, the two processions kept the streets buzzing through the day.But the real craze of the festival wasn’t just seen in the dance moves or the chants of “Agle baras tu jaldi aa” rising from the crowd. It was in the kilometre-long walks families made to get there, parents hoisting children onto their shoulders so they could see over the crowd, and some kids fighting back tears as the 10-day festival came to an end.Rupa had that same energy going, feeding her six-year-old son even as he kept breaking into dance while watching the processions go by. “We live near Vidyanagar. Our idol immersion happened on the fifth day itself. But we have come here just for my son. He loves this festival so much that he stays glued to the window every evening throughout the festival,” she told TOI.For others, it wasn’t the closest lake that mattered, but faith. “The immersion in our apartment happened two days ago. But me and my wife, we visit several immersion points every year. It is our faith towards Lord Ganesha that brings us here,” said Karthik, a techie from Gachibowli, who had come with his wife Mounika to watch the Khairatabad Bada Ganesh go under.Perimala, from Banjara Hills, came for something else entirely. “We had a clay Ganesha and did the immersion at home. We live in Banjara Hills but the craze is not as much here. Ganesh Chaturthi brings with it unity and we love to see that. Hope Ganesha blesses all,” she said.The festival pulled in more than just devotees. Police lathis went up in the air too – not for a lathi charge, but for a dance – as devotees pulled cops into their celebrations mid-duty. GHMC workers and volunteers got swept into it as well. “This festival brings everyone together. While we have to ensure enforcement measures are in place, people involve us in their celebrations and that feels very good,” said a civil police officer on immersion duty, standing off to the side and smiling.Behind the noise, the machinery of the day ran quietly: cranes, disaster-response teams and ambulances stationed at immersion points across the city, HMWSSB water stalls dotting the routes, and crowds parting on cue whenever an ambulance needed to pass.Crowds were thinner at baby ponds, but the enthusiasm remained undiminished, with immersion activity continuing at Saroornagar, Indira Park and other neighbourhood ponds.Some had travelled further than most to see it. Aditya, a Delhi Technology University student who has lived in Delhi for a decade, was in Hyderabad for Ganesh Chaturthi for the first time, visiting his parents. “I have never seen celebrations at such a large scale. Tall idols, that too in every lane of the city. Celebrations here are so lively,” he said.There were minor hiccups on the traffic front too, with congestion reported across several parts of the city. On the Tank Bund-Ranigunj route, traffic was temporarily stopped at the Tank Bund entrance after a 20-foot idol with a large crown reached the route, with police barricading the stretch while arrangements were made to remove the crown and allow the procession through. Traffic also prevailed along several major immersion routes, including those around Hussain Sagar, LB Nagar and Saroornagar.The vigour did not fade as evening set in. Instead, immersion activity intensified, with several processions taking to the streets. Tank Bund remained packed with visitors and processions, while Abids, Khairatabad, Lakdikapul, the Old City, Nampally and surrounding areas reported severe traffic congestion. Commuters struggled to navigate the gridlock, with several junctions witnessing long queues amid a lack of police personnel to manage traffic.
