Ganpati idol installed at Idgah Maidan in Hubballi amid heavy security.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Hubballi: Ganpati Idol installed at Idgah Maidan in the presence of a huge Hindu crowd.

Senior police officials are monitoring the bandobast arrangements around the venue which is now called Rani Chennamma Maidan in the presence of a huge Hindu crowd. 

B Upendran | HENB | Hubballi | Sept 19, 2023::  In the splash of saffron and with the chanting of “Ganpati Bappa Morya – Mangalmurti Morya”, scores of members of the BJP and Hindutva outfits taking part in the Ganesh idol installation ceremony at the Idgah Maidan in the heart of Hubballi city on Tuesday.

Scores of members of the BJP and Hindutva outfits took part in the Ganesh idol installation ceremony at the Idgah Maidan in the heart of Hubballi city in Karnataka on Tuesday.

Amid beefed-up security, public celebrations of Ganesh festival at the Idgah Maidan in the heart of Hubballi city began on Tuesday with scores of members of the BJP and Hindutva outfits taking out a procession and installing the idol of Lord Ganesh amid much fanfare.

The Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which had allowed the installation of the Ganesh idol at the Idgah Maidan by imposing 18 conditions, subsequently relaxed a few of them on the insistence of the Rani Chennamma Maidan Gajanan Utsav Mahamandali.

Although the municipal corporation had permitted the celebrations to be held between September 19 and 21, it allowed the Mahamandali to conduct a few rituals on Monday, before the mahamandali erected the Ganesh pandal.

Scores of members of the BJP and Hindutva outfits taking part in the Ganesh idol installation ceremony at the Idgah Maidan in the heart of Hubballi city on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Kiran Bakale via The Hindu.

On Monday, Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar along with senior police officers and RAF personnel conducted a flag march ahead of the Ganesh festival in Hubballi.

On Monday, Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar along with senior police officers and RAF personnel conducted a flag march ahead of the Ganesh festival in Hubballi to keep the law and order in the area.

On Tuesday, led by MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginakai and other BJP leaders, members of the party, Mahamandali and a few Hindutva outfits took out a procession of the Ganesh idol from the premises of Moorusavir Mutt accompanied by some folk troupes.

Accompanied by a huge posse of police personnel, led by senior police officials, the procession covered the streets of the central business district with the chanting of Ganapati Bappa Moraya before reaching the venue.

Once it reached the Ganesh pandal at the maidan, priests elaborately performed various rituals and puja amid chanting of 108  names of Lord Ganesh.

Speaking to presspersons after the installation, Mr. Mahesh Tenginakai said that because of the appeasement politics of the Congress, the devotees of Lord Ganesh faced some problems in getting the required permissions for idol installation. And, he will only pray to Lord Ganesh to bless even those who tried to prevent the public celebrations of the Ganesh festival at the Rani Chennamma (Idgah) Maidan.

Member of Legislative Council Pradeep Shettar, who arrived at the venue a little late, clarified that as he was on a tour of three States as a member of the privilege committee, he could not participate in the agitation. He returned to Hubballi on Monday night, he said.

As a precautionary measure, the police have beefed up the security in and around the venue and senior police officials are monitoring the bandobast arrangements.

Senior officials, including Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) Labhu Ram and Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Hitendra, visited Hubballi on Tuesday and held meetings with the police officials.

Hubballi is in the festive mood of Ganesh Chaturthi with peace and amity.

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__Inputs from The Hindu, TV9 and One India Kannada.