Idols of Lord Vinayaka were taken out in a procession in the Vellore town for immersion in a pool of water in Sadhuperi on Wednesday afternoon.
More than 1,500 idols were permitted to be erected in various places across the district and the administration identified places for immersion as per the rules stipulated by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Director of Sri Sakthi Amma Institute of Bio-Medical Research, N. Balaji, and director, Sri Narayani Golden Temple, Sripuram, M. Suresh Babu, flagged off the procession of idols around noon near the Anjaneyar temple in Sathuvachari. Hindu Munnani leaders, including State general secretary Arasuraja, participated in the procession which covered areas like Kagithapattarai, Saidapet Murugan Koil, Long Bazaar, Fort Round Road, service road near Konavattam bridge and reached the specially created watershed area in Sadhuperi.
Two cranes were used for immersing the idols. Volunteers, who took the idols on tricycles, trailers and trucks, danced their way all along amid drum beats. Around 2,000 police personnel were deployed. In Vellore, SP Pravesh Kumar oversaw the security arrangements.
Minor altercation
There was a minor altercation between the police and volunteers when the procession reached Konavattam bridge. While the police asked the participants to take a detour on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway, the organisers took the service road to reach Sadhuperi as they said the administration had cleared the route. Vellore Sub-Collector K. Meghraj reached the spot in time to pacify the participants and the procession was allowed on service road..
Similarly processions were organised in Vaniyambadi, Katpadi, Walaja, Sholingur and Arakkonam where the organisers immersed the idols at identified locations amid tight security.
Due to the procession traffic snarls were reported from afternoon on Katpadi Road, Anna Salai and Makhan Junction. Motorists had a tough time as the police diverted them into lanes and bylanes.
Immersion in Tiruvannamalai
In Tiruvannamalai, 100 idols were taken in a procession and immersed in Tamaraikulam. More than 1,100 idols were erected in the district by volunteers of Hindu Munnani and other social welfare groups. Among them, 750 idols were taken for immersion from Chengam, Cheyyar, Polur and Arni. The remaining idols would be immersed on Thursday, the organisers said.