Pune: Pune’s grand Ganeshotsav celebrations concluded on Saturday after the city’s main immersion procession continued for 33 hours and 33 minutes, according to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. The final Ganpati idol crossed Tilak Chowk at around 6.15 pm, bringing the main procession to an end after more than a day of continuous movement through central Pune.
Commissioner Kumar said the duration of the procession was not the primary concern for the police. Their main objective was to ensure the safety of devotees, maintain smooth movement of crowds and prevent any major law-and-order incident during the massive 12-day festival.
Six Lakh Metro Passengers Add to Crowd Pressure
This year’s Ganeshotsav posed an additional challenge for the police due to the significant rise in Metro ridership. According to Kumar, nearly six lakh passengers travelled by Metro in a single day, bringing a large number of people into central Pune to witness the festivities and immersion processions.
With thousands of devotees already expected in the city’s central areas, the additional Metro footfall increased pressure on key roads, public spaces and procession routes.
Police deployed additional personnel across Pune, particularly in central areas and along the major immersion routes. Extensive crowd-management measures were implemented to prevent overcrowding and any stampede-like situation.
Kumar said the arrangements were designed primarily around the safety of devotees rather than simply reducing the duration of the procession. Advance planning, security deployment and coordination among various agencies helped keep the situation under control despite the massive crowds.
No Major Untoward Incident Reported
According to the Police Commissioner, no major untoward incident or serious law-and-order problem was reported during the immersion procession.
Hundreds of Ganesh mandals, devotees, dhol-tasha groups and volunteers participated in the procession. Police personnel remained stationed at strategic points to regulate crowds, manage movement and ensure that emergency services could continue operating.
Ganesh mandal office-bearers and volunteers also extended cooperation to the police throughout the procession, which helped authorities manage the prolonged movement of people and idols through central Pune.
33 Ambulances Given Clear Passage
One of the major priorities during the procession was to ensure uninterrupted movement for emergency services.
Despite heavy crowds around Tilak Chowk, 33 ambulances were able to pass through the area, Kumar said. Special arrangements were made along the main routes to keep emergency corridors clear and ensure that ambulances and other essential services were not blocked by the celebrations.
The ability to maintain emergency movement amid the massive crowds was an important part of the police’s overall crowd-management strategy.
Police Focused on Safety, Not Duration
Kumar said the number of hours taken by the procession was not being treated as the primary measure of the festival’s success.
The police focus, he said, was on ensuring that the celebrations continued without hindrance while protecting devotees and maintaining law and order.
The unusually large crowds in central Pune had prompted police to take additional precautions against overcrowding and stampede-like situations. The substantial increase in Metro passengers further complicated crowd management, but officials said the situation remained under control.
Last year’s main immersion procession was officially recorded by Pune Police as lasting 32 hours and 26 minutes.
Restrictions on Newer Mandals
Ahead of this year’s festival, police had introduced measures aimed at improving the movement of the main procession.
Participation by some newer mandals on the traditional main routes was restricted. Mandals with at least two years of previous participation were permitted to join the main routes under the revised arrangements, while some other mandals were directed to alternative routes.
The move was intended to help regulate the number of processions entering the busiest parts of central Pune and improve the overall movement of the procession.
Five Manache Ganpati Lead the Procession
The traditional immersion procession began on Friday, September 25, with Pune’s five Manache Ganpati leading the celebrations.
Kasba Ganpati departed from Mandai at around 9.45 am, followed by Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug and Kesariwada Ganpati.
The five Manache Ganpati proceeded along the traditional central-city routes before reaching their respective immersion points. Their immersion was completed at around 6.10 pm on Friday, after which processions of other prominent public Ganesh mandals continued through the city.
The major procession routes included Laxmi Road, Tilak Road, Kumthekar Road and Kelkar Road, which converged towards Alka Talkies Chowk.
Traffic Restrictions Imposed Across Pune
As the immersion processions continued, traffic restrictions and diversions remained in force across several parts of the city.
To reduce traffic pressure during the festival, police imposed a 48-hour restriction on heavy vehicles across Pune city from September 25 to September 26.
Meanwhile, Pune Metro announced 41 hours of continuous services from September 25 to September 26, providing an alternative transport option for citizens travelling to central Pune to witness the immersion procession.
12-Day Ganeshotsav Concludes Amid Massive Crowds
The city’s 12-day Ganeshotsav began on September 14 with Ganesh Chaturthi and concluded with Anant Chaturdashi on September 25.
Central Pune witnessed large crowds throughout the festival, with the biggest gathering taking place during the final immersion procession.
Commissioner Kumar said citizens had expressed satisfaction with the police arrangements during the festival. He also acknowledged the contribution of the Pune Municipal Corporation in providing facilities for devotees and supporting the overall arrangements.
With the final Ganpati idol crossing Tilak Chowk at around 6.15 pm on Saturday, Pune’s main immersion procession finally drew to a close after 33 hours and 33 minutes.
For the police, however, the length of the procession was less significant than the fact that the festival passed without any major untoward incident despite the enormous crowds, increased Metro ridership and prolonged pressure on the roads of central Pune.
