More than 36,632 idols were immersed on Saturday — the last day of the Ganesh festival — overnight into Sunday. Saturday marked Day 11 and is celebrated as Anant Chaturdashi. Of these, 5855 were sarvajanik or community idols, from Ganesh mandals across the city. According to data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 30,468 household idols were immersed on Saturday and Sunday until 6.00 am. A total of 1,97,114 idols were immersed during this Ganesh festival, according to BMC figures. This includes 1,81,375 households and 10,148 public Ganesh idols, as well as 5591 idols of Gauri and Hartalika.
Despite directives from the Bombay High Court disallowing immersion of idols smaller than 6 feet in height in natural water bodies, several household idols were immersed in the sea on Sunday morning, after BMC and Mumbai police supervision was wrapped up for the day. Such incidents were reported from at least two locations —Dadar Chowpatty and Gorai Creek.
A civic official said, “BMC officials from respective wards were assigned to monitor immersion at natural water bodies. They were instructed to follow directives from the high court. No idols smaller than 6 feet were allowed to be immersed in natural water bodies.” There are a total of 70 natural immersion sites across Mumbai, while 290 artificial ponds were set up by BMC, many of which were in the vicinity of, or at, natural immersion sites.
5855
No of sarvajanik idols immersed
