Ganpati Visarjan processions bring festive flair to Panchkula

Large numbers of devotees today participated in the Ganpati Visarjan festivities in the Ghaggar river, lending a blend of religious fervour, music and colour to the city’s streets. Several processions made their way from different parts of the tricity towards the immersion sites, with people dancing, singing and smearing each other with colours.

Idols were immersed at multiple points along the Ghaggar, including Sector 25, near Majri Chowk Bridge, and Sector 21, which also serves as the site for Chhath Puja.

Despite the recent rise in the river’s water level due to rains, devotees waded deep into the water to perform the rituals and complete the visarjan.

The celebrations, however, caused heavy traffic congestion throughout the day. Commuters faced long snarls on the Zirakpur flyover, Sector 20, and the highway stretch towards Chandigarh as processions occupied entire lanes.

Families, youth groups, and community organisations carried the idols with great pomp, accompanied by dhols and music. “The atmosphere was so vibrant and filled with devotion;

it felt like the whole community had come together,” said Amit Kumar, a devotee from Mohali. Another participant, Meena from Zirakpur, remarked, “Though the

traffic was difficult to manage, it was worth it to be part of the Visarjan.”

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to regulate traffic and crowd movement, while social volunteers helped guide the devotees.

Authorities keep close eye on Ghaggar’s water level

A large gathering of devotees reached the Chhath Puja ghat on the banks of the Ghaggar river for the immersion rituals. Throughout the ceremony, police kept a close watch on the situation. Sector-21 police post in-charge Didar Singh was present at the site and ensured that no one was allowed to enter the deeper parts of the river.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Srishti Gupta stated that the water level of the Ghaggar could still not be considered safe. Sitting on the riverbank or entering deep waters could prove life-threatening. She appealed to devotees to respect not only their religious sentiments but also the value of their lives, emphasising that negligence towards safety could lead to serious accidents.

In line with these precautions, Ganesh idol immersions were carried out only at safe points along the riverbank. Devotees too cooperated with the police and peacefully completed the rituals while adhering to the safety guidelines.