Vinayaka idols of various hues and shapes were taken out in a procession and immersed in the beach here on Tuesday to mark the culmination of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities.
The procession, which began at Saram, went around the town and reached Beach Road after covering Jawaharlal Nehru Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road and Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai.
The idols were mounted on various vehicles, including bullock carts and trucks, and lowered into the sea using cranes.
As per the advisory of the Pollution Control Board, artisans had been instructed to use only eco-friendly materials in making the idols.
Huge crowds thronged the beach on Tuesday evening and the celebrations gained grandeur with dance and recital of bhajans. The police had made elaborate security arrangements across the town.
The Port Department on Sunday declined permission to Hindu outfits for taking the procession of idols through the old pier citing its precarious condition.
The organisers were granted permission to take the procession through the northern end of the beach near the new pier and carry out the immersion.
