Ganesh idols of various shapes, sizes and colours dot the streets of Bidar, attracting devotees by the thousands.
The most visited is the Sri Rang Pathak Ganesh on the Sri Raghavendra Temple premises.
The multimedia show uses clips from the Raj Kumar-starrer Bhakta Prahlada and a Hindi movie to showcase the demon king Hiranyakashipu and his son saintly son Prahlad.
The mythical story is used as a backdrop to show Prahlad’s devotion to all gods, including Ganesh. It fuses the theatre technique of using curtains to show different scenes.
It uses moving mannequins, pillars that fall off and LED lights that throw lights of different colours. Yogesh Kumar Pathak, who has been installing creative idols for 10 years now, says he is already planning next year’s show.
The other attractive ones are a 20-feet Ganesh riding a strong buffalo put up by the milkmen of Gouli Galli; the Vishnu Avatara Ganesh of Pratap Nagar; Ganesh sitting in a Balaji posture by the Sai Ganesh Mandal; Ganesh sitting on a drum and pipe near the Kranti Ganesh Temple; the Rajasthani Ganesh Mandal, and the tall idols erected by the Ganesh Maidan society and the Bidar Ka Raja group.
The innovative ones include a Ganesh featuring PM Narendra Modi launching the Swachh Bharat Mission; the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaigner Ganesh in Rang Rez Galli; Ganesh in the form of Ram in Brahman Wadi; the Shivalinga carrying Ganesh inspired by the blockbuster Bahubali, and the Chidri bronze idol Ganesh, to honour the handicraftsmen of the old city.
Traders of Gandhi Gunj have installed a Lord Shiva carrying a Ganesh idol on his Rath at home that is attracting women for its intricate decoration.
Children queue up to get photographed and take their pictures printed on the spot.
The Ganesh Mandal federation, a collection of over 150 street corner youth associations that install and watch over Ganesh idols for five days will take out an immersion procession on Ashtami, the fifth day.
Police have made round the clock security arrangements.
