Ganeshotsav 2021: Immersions back, but no processions, says BMC

An idol being immersed in a waterbody in Borivli. File pic/Nimesh Dave

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allowed immersion of Ganesh idols in the sea and natural lakes across the city amid warnings of the third wave of the pandemic in September. While it has banned processions, the civic body has asked all big mandals to ensure that the darshan is strictly done online. There are over 13,000 Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals in the city. Last year, the corporation had asked them to immerse the idols in the nearest artificial ponds.

Senior citizens and children will not be allowed at the immersion sites this time. File pic/Nimesh Dave

The BMC has also put restrictions on the crowds at immersion sites. Civic officials said only ten members per mandal will be allowed at the natural immersion sites. Senior citizens and children will be barred at these spots. Mumbai has 84 such sites.

Naresh Dahibaokar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said, "We have been allowed this year to visit public beaches and natural waterfronts unlike last year where public places were shut, it is a welcome move. But we have appealed to increase the cap of 10 members and make it 20 members that are fully vaccinated."

Also read: State Minister for Railways Raosaheb Danve announces 78 additional Ganpati special trains

As per the BMC, mandal members will have to hand over the idols to the civic staff who will further take them into the water. Nobody other than the BMC staff will be allowed to venture into the water. The corporation has also said that the mandals must follow all the COVID precautions and there should be no crowding at Ganpati sites. This year, the heights of the idols have been capped at 4 feet for mandals and 2 feet at homes.

2ft
Height cap for household Ganesh idols

84
No. of water bodies where mandals can go for immersion