Jatra replaces the usual procession

  The Ganeshas idols that had been put up for public worship were immersed in the Kanampalli Oti Lake on Saturday, even as hundreds of people watched.

The people would certainly remember the Ganesh Visarjan Jatra organised in the place for the public for a long time. The common way is conducting various religious and cultural programmes, then going in procession and finally immersing the Ganesha idol in the water. In Chintamani town too, the custom is being carried out for the last nine years.

This year, however, for the first time in the State, the custom of a ceremony has been replaced by a Jatra.

A large platform had been constructed at the place of the Jatra. All the Ganesha idols were placed in one side of the platform, and special poojas were organised. Another side of the platform was used to conduct cultural programmes.

The Ganesha idols were brought from Azad Chowk to the venue of the Jatra in a traditional manner on Friday night. Hundreds of people came to the place of the Jatra starting Saturday morning to offer prayers to Ganesha. Special poojas and yagas too were conducted Saturday morning.

The Dollukunita, Veeragase, Kolata, Nadaswara, Bhavageete and Bharatanatya recitals entertained the people in the afternoon.

The special attraction was the 21-foot tall Shivalinga that was put up at the place of the special pooja.

The first ever such Jatra, on a maidan covered with grass, only heightened the enthusiasm of the people gathered. The devotees took part in the ongoings wholeheartedly.

Several games were also organised at the Jatra. Being children in the company of Nature, the games only increased the liveliness of the atmosphere.
Vendors on push-carts had a busy time on Saturday.

Food facility was provided from afternoon till evening for all devotees gathered. They were served with care by volunteers clad in white.

There was another round of pooja for Ganesha in the evening. It included Uttarapooja, Vedaparayana and Dashashanti. The idols were finally immersed in the waters of the Kanampalli Oti Lake.

Ganesha Samiti leader Satyanarayana Mahesh took charge of the organisation at the venue. Rural police station Sub-inspector Satish led the police security that was provided for the area.