As a sequel to the Ganesh Chathurthy, Ganapathy Immersion took place at Chennai on September 2 &3, 2006. The traffic was not blocked for the procession and the police regulated the traffic of the Trucks / Tractors carrying the Ganesh Idols from different parts of the city. Immersion points in the sea shore to name a few viz Thiruvottiyur near Carborundum Universal, Srinivasa Puram in Foreshore Estate and Palavakkam on ECR were identified.

I went to Palavakkam to witness the Immersion Ceremony or Visarjan as they call it in Maharashtra. At Palavakkam the Police made orderly arrangements for the immersion of the idols of varied sizes. A crane was provided to lift the idols from the truck.

The idols were positioned first in the sea shore. Thereafter the devotees performed Pooja to the Idol

Thereafter the devotees carried the idols to the sea for immersion. Bigger idols were carried in catamarans by the fishermen for immersion in the sea.

Lot of youngsters participated in the celebrations. I heard feeble slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Jai Kali” by the participants. There were drumbeats and dances by the participant in the trucks with whistling. To me it occured that religious fervour was missing.

Along with the large idols, small clay idols were carried in the trucks and these clay idols were passed from the truck among the devotees like the bricks being passed in the construction site.

Some of the people with whom I talked were smelling of liquor.

While I was taking photographs, one person gathered all his friends, posed in front of the Ganesh Idol and asked me to take a photograph. He gave his address and asked me to send the photograph. I assured to send within a week and I should keep up the promise.

I observed a Muslim family (women clad in Burka) came close to a Ganesh Idol and paid their respects to the Ganesh Idol. Faith transcends religion.

Police were present in large numbers and made arrangements for smooth flow of idols for immersion into the sea.

The following two movie posts capture the movement of idols to the sea.