Processions for idol immersions to celebrate Vinayaka Chaturthi, were largely peaceful across the city on Sunday.
Barring an incident that led to a disagreement in Korukkupet, the processions proceeded from various points in and around the city, closely guarded by a large posse of police officials who prevented the occurrence of any untoward events.
Several Hindu organisations and individuals had installed Vinayagar idols in different parts of the city. After obtaining permission from the police, the idols were immersed in specific beaches over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, over 1,450 idols were immersed in various places. The immersions began in the morning, with the colourful idols transported in lorries, as devotees and representatives of Hindu groups chanted slogans.
The processions began from various places, including Manali, Villivakkam, Redhills, Thiruverkadu, Koyambedu, Triplicane, Egmore, Chintadripet, Pudupet, Valluvarkottam, K.K.Nagar, Poonamallee High Road, Pallavaram and Velachery.
However, they all ended at different designated points including Foreshore Estate, Palkalai Nagar (Neelankarai), Fishing Harbour (Kasimedu), Thiruvottriyur and Ennore beaches.
Cranes, life guards and medical teams were on standby at the immersion points. A total of 12,000 police personnel were deployed all along the procession routes, especially in sensitive areas where the idols were due to pass.
A member of Hindu Munnani, Ramagopalan, and his supporters, who attempted to by-pass police personnel and illegally lead a procession on the road near Triplicane big mosque, were arrested.
Speaking to The Hindu, Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order (in-charge), Sanjay Arora said the processions were peaceful overall. “There were a few minor incidents including the one in Korukkupet where police sprung into action and amicably settled the issue,” he added.
Keywords: idol immersions, Vinayaka Chaturthi
As it is our Marina is polluted and contaminated to an extent that nothing can be done to restore and now such incidents allow further contamination of the lovely beach! I do respect their beliefs but please also respect our environment we live in…!
Can someone stop this from happening? Please? First of all I don’t understand why we take utter care of holy idols whether it is a pooja room or a temple from being even exposed to animal products or any dirt? We make sure we are clean but then take them and throw them in that filth?
Should we continue with this superstitious tradition even now in this modern era? Are we not contributing negatively to the already highly polluted water-bodies in our country? I do not see any such anti-ecological, unreasonable practice anywhere in this world. Practicing a religion is different, but superstitions like immersing statues in lakes and oceans, bursting fire-works, resorting to sound pollution several times in a day, sacrificing innocent animals, etc., etc., need to be abolished immediately, whichever religion they may represent.
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