Kurnool city reverberated with drumbeats and bursting of crackers, as Ganesh revellers, smeared with colours, took about 1,800 idols in processions and immersed them in the KC Canal at the Vinayak Ghat on Saturday.
Viswa Hindu Parishad International Working President G. Raghava Reddy flagged off the procession of Ganesh idols after performing pooja at the Sri Rambhotla temple here. A large laddu offered to the Ganesh idol near the temple was auctioned for ₹20,500.
Kurnool MP Butta Renuka, Joint Collector Prasanna Venkatesh, Superintendent of Police Gopinath Jatti, former MLA K. Rambhupal Reddy, Ganesh Mahotsava Kendra Samithi working president K. Kapileswaraiah, city working president K. Krishnanna, general secretary S. Rangaswamy and others took part in the procession.
Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy launched the idol immersion by hoisting the samithi flag, performing pooja and lighting a lamp in the presence of Butta Renuka, Kurnool MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy, Panyam MLA Gauru Charitha Reddy and TDP leader K.E. Prathap.
Mr. Krishnamurthy, Ms. Renuka, Collector S. Satyanarayana and the SP presented prizes to the students who won the essay writing and painting competitions held earlier.
Disappointment
A 20-foot Ganesh installed by the Vivekananda Yuvajana Sangham was the first idol to be immersed followed by several large idols in the knee-deep water stored by putting up sand bags at Joharapuram. However, the enthusiasm of revellers was dampened as large idols got only partially immersed in the canal.