Ganesh devotees immerse Idols in River Panchganga by crossing temporary barricades erected to prevent immersion in the river

• Local Govt Administration opposes Ganesh Idol immersion in river water

• Devotees immerse Idols in the river water after 4 years

Devotees who came for Shri Ganesh Idol immersion

Kolhapur (Maharashtra) – The local Administration did not grant permission for the immersion of Shri Ganesh Idols in River Panchganga and maintained high security by deploying a large Police force and erecting barricades at the site of immersion at the bank of River Panchganga. Hundreds of devout Hindu activists and Ganesh devotees, however, broke those barricades and immersed Shri Ganesh Idols in the river water as per the spiritual science pertaining to Hindu Dharma (Dharma-shastra), amidst the acclamation of ‘Jai Shriram’. The Administration had to bend before the united strength of devout Hindu activists and devotees. After four years, they could immerse the Idols in the river.

Devout Hindus and Ganesh devotees gathered at the immersion site

The local Administration was announcing again and again that they were following the High Court’s orders and boards with related matters were displayed at the banks of the river. As per the orders of either the Court or the Pollution Control Board, it was not compulsory to avoid immersion in the river water, but the local Administration was trying to force the devotees who expressed their strong displeasure. Many devout Hindu activists from various pro-Hindu organisations such as Deepak Desai, the District-President of ‘Hindu Ekata Andolan’; Parag Fadanis of Bajrang Dal; the deputy District-Chief Uday Bhosale and Kishore Ghatge of Shiv Sena, District-coordinator Kiran Duse and Shivanand Swami of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and several activists and devotees were present on the occasion. Thousands of Ganesh devotees and devout Hindu activists were raising slogans of ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ as they were reaching the site of immersion.

What is the Administration doing when effluents are let in the river water throughout the year?

Ganesh devotees asked whether pollution takes place only due to immersion of Ganesh Idols and what action the Administration takes throughout the year against those letting effluents in the river.

Devout Hindus and Ganesh devotees breaking through the barricades

When will the administration act on the Court’s order to remove loudspeakers from mosques? – Uday Bhosale, Shiv Sena, Dy District-Chief

Why does the Administration remember pollution only during Hindu festivals? When will the Administration, which is quoting the Court’s order today to avoid pollution, follow the Court’s order on removing loudspeakers from mosques? These questions were raised by Shiv Sena’s Dy District-Chief Uday Bhosale while talking to reporters on the occasion.

Why the elected representatives didn’t take a firm stand in support of Ganesh devotees?

Last year, the local Administration tried to stop the immersion of Ganesh Idols at Ichalkaranji, in a similar manner and all pro-Hindu organisations fought with unity. An independent MLA, Prakash Awade, firmly supported Ganesh devotees. He submitted a memorandum to Deepak Kesarkar, the then Minister of Environment Department, and the Minister appealed to the local Administration to not force Ganesh devotees in any manner; therefore, the local Administration had to take a back step and Shri Ganesh Idol immersion was done in the River Panchganga. The devotees are asking why no elected representative extended support this year to Ganesh devotees at Kolhapur.

Idol-donation drive turns out to be a fiasco at Gadhinglaj (Kolhapur)

Devotees worshipping the Idol by the river

Gadhinglaj – The drive undertaken in the city for the donation of Shri Ganesh Idols has been a total failure. More than 90% of Hindus spontaneously immersed the Idols due to the awareness created by devout Hindu activists in this connection, and they turned their back on the anti-Dharma drive of donation of Idols.