Old City comes alive as thousands gather to bid adieu to Lord Ganesha

HYDERABAD: The Old City skyline burst into varying hues of saffron on Monday as lakhs joined the Ganesh immersion procession.
The entire procession route resonated with chants of ?Ganpati Bappa Morya' and ?Jai Sri Ram' even as devotees of the elephant god danced to the beats of the drums on and before trailers carrying Ganesh idols of different shapes and sizes.
The streets wore a deserted took earlier in the day as the devout were busy loading idols onto trailers. But Ganesh activity slowly gained momentum towards the afternoon as trailers carrying idols began trickling on to the roads from areas such as Falaknuma, Sultan Shahi, Lal Darwaza, Aliabad, Hari Bowli, Gowlipura and Vattepalli. These idols joined the central procession which began from Balapur passed through Shah Ali Banda, Charminar, Pathergatti, Afzal Gunj and culminated at Hussain Sagar.
The heritage precinct of Charminar served both as a vantage point for observing the procession and also a platform for religious and political leaders from where speeches were delivered. Various political outfits, including Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, near Charminar, set up kiosks from where water and food was handed out to the revelers.
"We have been setting up this kiosk for many years. Food such as pulihora and water are provided free of charge," said MIM leader S Rajamohan. He was joined by Charminar corporator Mohammed Ghouse and other party workers.
Non-government organisations such as Confederation of Voluntary Association (COVA) too had a host of volunteers who were keeping an eye on the proceedings.
The procession was stopped for a few minutes during azan issuing from the Mecca Masjid. Entry into the historic mosque was strictly monitored and regulated by security agencies.
All mosques, dargahs and chillas along the central and tributary procession routes, including Allah Masjid in Shah Ali Banda, Mecca Masjid, Masjid-e-Qader Yar Khan in Pathergatti and Jama Masjid Siddi Amber Bazaar were draped in white cloth as a preventive measure.