Ganesh devotees take down the barricades in Kolhapur to immerse Ganesh idols in the Panchganga river

• Initiatives of devout Hindu organisations

• Immersion in the river defying the administration’s ban for the second time in a row

• Immersion of donated Shri Ganesh idols in the river by devout Hindus

Hindutva activists and Ganesh devotees remove ‘barricades’ put up in Panchganga river area

Kolhapur – Despite persistent requests from the Hindu organisations and Ganesh devotees, the municipal
administration maintained its adamant stand not to allow the immersion of Shri Ganesh idols in Panchaganga
river by installing barricades around the river area. Similar to last year, Ganesh devotees defied the order, took
down the barricades, and immersed the idols in the river. Yesterday, Hindu organisations had called on Ganesh
devotees to convene at the river for the immersion. Following this appeal, devotees began arriving at the river
1 p.m onwards.

After the removal of the ‘barricades’ put up in the Panchganga river area, the Devotees and Ganesh devotees present

Initially, the Police and the administration stopped the Ganesh devotees outside the barricades; but the Police
had to retreat in front of the aggression of Ganesh devotees. Ganesh devotees first broke through the barricades on one side of the river, and later, Hindu devotees removed the barricades on the other side to facilitate the immersion process. During this event, the Panchganga riverbanks resounded with slogans like ‘Devout Hindu Kolhapur,’ ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya,’ and other celebratory chants.

A significant Police presence was deployed for the occasion. Many devotees expressed their satisfaction and joy at being able to immerse the Ganesh idol in the river. Numerous Ganesh devotees gathered to carry out the immersion of the idol in the Panchganga river. The consistent efforts by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and other pro-Hindu organisations to spread awareness about the importance of immersing idols in the flowing waters are now manifesting.

Hindu devotees immersed the donated Shri Ganesh idols in the river

Devotees take idols donated to Panchganga river Pirasa back from truck and take them for immersion in river

From the early morning, NGOs along with the municipal administration collected the donated Shri Ganesh idols
and placed them at a site outside the Panchganga river. A truck arrived to transport the idols. As soon as Hindus became aware of the situation, they took the idols off the truck, immersed them in the Panchganga river, and then emptied and flipped over the immersion tank kept in the area.

Devotees take idols donated to Panchganga river Pirasa back from truck and take them for immersion in river

Prominent guests

The District President of Hindu Ekta Andolan, Deepak Desai; Mayor Gajanan Todkar; Shiv Sena Sub-District Chief Uday Bhosale; Kishore Ghatge; and Abhijit Patil from Sakal Hindu Samaj, entrepreneur Prasanna Shinde, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party’s sub-district chief Sambhajirao Bhokare and Karveer Taluka Pramukh Raju Yadav, Founder of ‘Shivshahi Foundation’ Sunil Samant, Panchganga Vihar Mandal Member Sushil Bhandigare, Founder of ‘Maharaja Pratishthan’ Niranjan Shinde, Provincial Vice President of Anti- Corruption Public Awareness Committee Anandrao Paval, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Anirudh Kolhapure, Founder of Rashtrahit Pratishthan Sharad Mali, Hindutvanishta Rambhau Methe, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Many Ganesh devotees were present along with Sivananda Swami.

As long as the sun and moon are in the sky, Ganesh idols will be immersed in the Panchganga river : Gajanan Todkar, City President of Hindu Ekta Andolan

Hindutva activist Shri Ganesh, who was standing in the panchganga river area with a placard urging people to immerse the idol in the Panchganga river itself. Balasaheb Nigvekar

This demonstrates that the municipal administration disregards the religious sentiments of Hindus, despite numerous appeals from Ganesh devotees and devout Hindus. If there can be an ‘eco-friendly’ Ganeshotsav, why not apply the same standards to ‘Bakri Eid’ and ‘Christmas’ ? Why is there no push to celebrate festivals of other religions in an ‘eco-friendly’ manner ? In the future, the municipal administration should refrain from criticising the river pollution caused by Ganesh idol immersions. Additionally, starting next year, the municipal corporation should learn from this experience and cease installing barricades. As long as there is sun and moon in the sky, Ganesh idols will be immersed in Panchganga river only.

In the city, Visarjan Kund (immersion tanks) were set up at various Ganeshotsav mandals and in some chowks (intersection). Political and community representatives also placed placards with appeals in these areas. While some devotees used these immersion tanks to immerse Ganesh idols, the turnout was relatively low.

A stream flowing into the Panchganga river area was directly mixing with the river, causing dirty water to accumulate and resulting in a foul odour. When Hindus complained about this issue, the municipal administration took action and the municipal corporation scattered powder over the contaminated water.

Idol immersion in Panchganga river in Ichalkaranji as well

Even in Ichalkaranji city, devotees immersed the Ganesh idols in Panchganga river itself.

Balasaheb Nigvekar, an elderly Hindu devotee, had been stationed near the Panchganga river since 10 a.m., holding a placard that read, ‘Immerse the idol of Shri Ganesh in the river Panchganga only.’