Hyderabad: The Khairatabad Ganesh immersion procession began on Saturday with traditional drums and rituals. The 63-foot Khairatabad Ganesh idol, one of the tallest in the country, drew lakhs of devotees for the grand shobha yatra.
Pujaris performed special prayers at midnight and moved the ritual kalash at 12.35 a.m. Early morning ceremonies followed. The festival committee decorated the idol with a massive floral garland before the yatra commenced with the breaking of coconuts.
Procession towards Tank Bund
The massive idol is on its way to Tank Bund through Rajdoot Hotel, Telephone Bhavan, and the Secretariat. The immersion will take place at Stand No. 4 on NTR Marg. A heavy-duty crane has been readied to manage the operation safely.
Authorities expect nearly 10 lakh devotees to participate in the procession. Police lined the entire route with heavy security to ensure smooth movement.
Traffic restrictions for immersion
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Police made elaborate arrangements to handle the large turnout. City Police announced traffic restrictions across Hyderabad and Secunderabad from 6 a.m. on September 6 until the evening of September 7. They may extend the curbs if the immersion continues late into the night.
The Khairatabad Ganesh immersion has become one of Hyderabad’s most significant annual events, combining religious devotion, community spirit, and large-scale civic planning.