People bid adieu to Ganesh with grand processions

Hubballi: City residents on Thursday bid adieu to Lord Ganesh after worshipping him for 11 days. As many as 116 Ganesh idols were immersed at the renovated pond on the premises of Government School number-16 in Hosur and in a well near Glass House.
The procession was kickstarted by Chandrashekhar Mahaswamiji of Hosamath at Durgadbail. Security was tightened for a peaceful conduct of the event.
Police made elaborate security arrangements along the route. As many as 33 inspectors, 94 PSIs, 1,200 police personnel including 10 platoons from the Karnataka State Reserve Police, 15 platoons of the City Armed Reserve Police and one company of Rapid Action Force were pressed for security duty.
The immersion ritual continued till Friday morning. Traffic police closed many roads in view of the procession and declared some roads as one ways. Parking was banned on the main roads of the city.
Various Ganesha Mandalis distributed prasadam to devotees on the final day of the festival. NWKRTC officials said they had changed the routes of buses due to the procession.
Traffic police said traffic was diverted after the procession reached the central parts of Hubballi. Hundreds of people watched the grand procession from the surrounding buildings.