Bengaluru, Sep 14 (IANS): The Gowri-Ganesha festival was celebrated across Karnataka with religious fervour and enthusiasm on Monday, with devotees thronging temples and markets to mark Ganesh Chaturthi.
In Bengaluru, elaborate security arrangements were in place across the city. In addition to the existing CCTV network, around 3,000 more cameras have been installed to monitor movements in sensitive and hypersensitive areas.
Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons have been deployed at key locations, while drones are being used for aerial surveillance. Police have also issued directions regarding the use of loudspeakers and made security arrangements along the procession routes.
The situation is being closely monitored from the police command centre, with strict vigil being maintained throughout the city.
K.R. Market witnessed heavy crowds from the early hours as people arrived to purchase fruits, flowers, vegetables, puja materials and other items required for the festival. Traffic movement around the market was disrupted from around 5 a.m. due to the large gathering.
At the historic Dodda Ganapathi Temple in Bengaluru’s Basavanagudi, devotees began queuing up as early as 3 a.m. on Monday. Temple priests performed special worship around 2.30 a.m., followed by a milk abhisheka using around 1,000 litres of milk. Maha Mangalarati was performed at 6 a.m.
The temple is scheduled to remain open for devotees until 12.30 a.m. on Monday.
Temple management head Srinivas said arrangements had been made to distribute prasadam to devotees from 6 a.m. until midnight. He said a special milk abhisheka involving 1,000 litres of milk had already been performed as part of the celebrations.
In Mysuru, the historic 101 Ganesh Temple also witnessed a large turnout of devotees. Special worship began at around 3 a.m., with people queuing up to seek the darshan of all 101 Ganesha idols installed at the temple.
According to the temple’s chief priest Sunil, 101 families had come together to install the 101 idols within the temple premises. There are 32 idols on the first step, 26 on the second, 24 on the third and 18 on the fourth, while a large Ganesha idol is installed at the top, taking the total number of idols to 101.
Sunil said special worship is conducted at the temple on every Sankashta Chaturthi. Devotees believe that visiting the temple, offering akshate and submitting their prayers helps them get relief from sins and doshas.
In Hubballi, popularly regarded as the Chota Mumbai, the festival was also celebrated with great enthusiasm. Streets witnessed large crowds as people came out to purchase Ganesha idols. Several people from rural areas arrived in bullock carts to buy idols and take them home for installation.
In Davanagere, more than 2,500 Ganesha idols are being installed as part of the festival celebrations. Police have stepped up security measures, particularly in 13 identified hypersensitive areas, to ensure peaceful celebrations and prevent any untoward incidents. People preferred to buy idols from the Kunnur region, believing that the land and soil were blessed by a revered Sufi saint, Santa Shishunala Sharif.
Authorities across the state have urged people to celebrate the festival peacefully, while maintaining communal harmony and following safety regulations during processions and idol immersions.
