Around 200 Vinayaka idols were taken out in a procession through all the four Masi Streets in the city and immersed in the small pond-like structure dredged in the Vaigai river on Sunday, marking the end of the Chathurthi celebrations.
The procession was largely peaceful owing the huge deployment of police personnel and elaborate security arrangements throughout the procession route. Minor tension prevailed since passion run high for the participants of the procession, when it crossed the mosque on the West Masi Street. However, no untoward incident happened, police said.
Idols kept in various parts of the city were earlier assembled on East Masi Street, where the procession began. The police had a tough time making the procession move faster since participants kept dancing to the drums and other music arranged by many groups that took part in the rally.
The police eventually had to ask many of these groups to stop playing music so that the procession could move faster.
A considerable number of people, particularly women and children, had gathered on both sides of the streets to witness the rally.
Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) V. Sasi Mohan were present at the venue to oversee the security arrangements.
Police sources said that apart from the nearly 200 idols immersed in the Vaigai, another 30 Vinayaka idols installed for Chathurthi in areas around Avaniyapuram and Tirupparankundram were immersed in tanks in the respective areas.
