MUMBAI: The vibrant city of Mumbai bid a grand yet cautious farewell to Lord Ganesha on Saturday and Sunday, marking the culmination of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival with the traditional Ganesh Visarjan. Despite heavy rainfall and a bomb threat that heightened security concerns, lakhs of devotees thronged the streets, undeterred, to participate in immersion processions filled with the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha, clouds of gulal (colored powder), and fervent chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya” as a heartfelt plea for the deity’s swift return next year.

The 2025 Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which began on August 27, saw Mumbai and its adjoining areas immersed in devotion; however, the final days were tested by nature and human threats.

Heavy rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, brought intermittent showers that soaked processions. A bomb threat received on Friday, September 5, claiming 14 terrorists had entered Mumbai with 400 kilograms of RDX planted in 34 vehicles, further intensified the atmosphere, with authorities deploying unprecedented security measures.

Despite these challenges, the spirit of Mumbai’s devotees remained unbroken. By 9 pm on Saturday, over 18,186 Ganapati idols, including 1,058 from sarvajanik mandals (community groups) and 258 Goddess idols, were immersed in natural water bodies and artificial ponds set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). By 3 pm, more than 2,100 idols had already been immersed, with no untoward incidents reported during the processions.

The iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, one of Mumbai’s most revered Ganesh mandals, drew massive crowds as its procession began on Saturday and continued overnight, reaching Girgaon Chowpatty by early Sunday morning.

Thousands of devotees lined the streets of Lalbaug, Parel, and other routes to catch a glimpse of the majestic idol, which was eventually taken into the deep sea for immersion on a specially built raft. The traditional Pushpavrishti (flower shower) at Shroff Building in Lalbaug added a poignant touch to the farewell, with devotees showering petals on the departing deity, deeply praying for his return in the next year.