Darkness greets Ganesh devotees at immersion site

Team Herald

PANJIM: The excitement at the time of immersing the Ganesha idols, after one-and-half day celebration, was dampened to a considerable extent when the venue earmarked for the immersion on the road to Bambolim was in complete darkness for almost an hour and a half. Devotees who had come with the Lord’s idols were left fuming as prior arrangements had not been properly done.

According to devotees, when they reached the spot at around 10.30 pm on Friday, they were met with complete darkness as the temporary electrical connection had failed.

It was painful to watch devotes performing the aarti and puja in darkness and then later being forced to throw the idol into the water as the place was not fully accessible.

A small backwater along Panjim-Bambolim road has been a place where traditionally people from the surrounding residential areas, immerse the Ganesh idols. The local authorities had even constructed steps to make it easier for the immersion. But the entire area has been taken over by the contractor constructing the flyover for the third Mandovi Bridge.

“It was very difficult for us at the time of immersion, firstly due to complete darkness and the inaccessibility to go down to the water as a result of which we had to just throw the idol into the water. It was very disheartening. We have been using this place for immersion for many years now,” a senior citizen said.

Another local said, “It has been a tradition that we immerse Ganesh there. The water was full of construction debris. There was no proper access to go down in the waters due to which we had to just throw the idol.”

Last week when the Herald photographer had visited the site to check the ground situation, the security personnel cum engineers on duty had stopped him stating that no one can enter it without permission from their client who is GSIDC. The person had also said they will not allow idol immersion without permission of their client as according to them, it would be risky.