Bengaluru witnessed a large turnout for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations as authorities recorded 1,84,628 idol immersions on the first day of the festival. The Greater Bengaluru Authority had arranged multiple facilities across the city to manage the large number of devotees and ensure that immersions were carried out in a controlled manner.
The western zone accounted for the largest share of the immersions. Official figures released by the Greater Bengaluru Authority show that 1,20,079 Ganesh idols were immersed in the western municipal area.
The central zone recorded 28,860 immersions, while 16,857 idols were immersed in the northern zone. The southern zone reported 10,372 immersions and the eastern zone recorded 8,460.
The figures highlight the scale of the festival activity across Bengaluru on the very first day. With celebrations continuing in different parts of the city, authorities have already put arrangements in place to handle the expected movement of devotees and idols during the coming days.
One of the main arrangements was the creation of immersion facilities at lake locations. The Greater Bengaluru Authority prepared temporary and permanent immersion tanks at 42 major lake premises. These facilities were intended to reduce the pressure on natural water bodies and provide designated locations for devotees.
The civic body also deployed 659 mobile tanks across wards. The mobile facilities gave residents an additional option for immersing smaller idols without having to travel long distances to major lake locations.
Environmental concerns have remained an important part of the arrangements this year. Authorities have encouraged residents to choose clay idols and have increased monitoring of plaster of Paris idols. The focus is aimed at reducing the impact of festival activities on lakes and other water bodies.
The use of mobile immersion tanks is also expected to help prevent direct immersion of idols into lakes. By providing dedicated facilities, officials can manage the process more systematically while limiting the amount of material entering natural water sources.
Another facility introduced for the festival was the single window system. A total of 122 single window centres were opened across the five municipal areas under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
These centres were intended to make the permission process easier for residents and public Ganesh committees planning idol installations. Organisers could approach the designated centres for the necessary approvals instead of dealing with multiple departments separately.
The civic authority also made information about immersion locations and mobile tank facilities available through its official website. This was aimed at helping residents identify nearby arrangements before taking their idols for immersion.
Police and civic officials have continued to coordinate security and crowd management measures as the festival progresses. The large number of immersions recorded on the first day has also given authorities an indication of the level of activity expected during the remaining celebrations.
For Bengaluru residents, the arrangements provide different options depending on the size and location of the Ganesh idol. Mobile tanks at ward level can reduce travel, while designated lake facilities can accommodate larger festival activity.
Officials are expected to maintain the arrangements over the coming days as more households and public committees complete their celebrations. The emphasis remains on managing the festival smoothly while reducing environmental pressure on the citys lakes and ensuring safe immersion facilities.
