Ganesh processions in Hyderabad: Old city youths on ground to help police

“As many as 14,000 Ganesh idols were immersed in the Hussain Sagar lake during the Ganesh nimajjanam”, said Hyderabad’s Additional Commissioner of Police Anjini Kumar, adding that about 3,000 idols were immersed in surrounding areas of the city.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place across the city even as traffic restrictions were put in place surrounding the Hussainsagar Lake.

The festive revelry marking the farewell was evident in every lane and junction of the city. From auctioning of laddoos to breaking in to dance for devotional songs, the streets witnessed the heavy traffic jam.

Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees flocked to Khairatabad area here to get a glimpse of the city’s most famous and tallest Ganesha idol, admeasuring 59-feet.

During the festival, many Muslims volunteers from old city came forward to help police in controlling the law and order. Senior officials said the gesture of these youngsters would establish communal harmony in the sensitive old city.

According to South Zone DCP V. Satyanarayana this initiative was aimed at bringing the two communities together. The police had also teamed up with a group of Hindu youngsters to clean up after Bakrid.

The city police had provided them a special blue-colored dress code and a brief training session on crowd control.
Several volunteers were present at Balapur and at Charminar, while many were deployed along the procession route. Teams of youngsters were allotted to station house officers.