Hindustan Times
MUMBAI, INDIA, September 11, 2005: Thousands of Ganesh icons — both from private homes and Ganesh mandals (temporary temples) across the city — were immersed in the Arabian Sea and other water bodies in the city on completion of the fifth day of the ongoing Ganpati festival. The Ganesh festival began last Wednesday, but its duration varies. While some household and sarvajanik Ganpatis are immersed only after one and a half days, others are immersed after five, seven or ten days. Most of the Ganesh icons that are immersed after the completion of one and a half days are the smaller, household ones; same with those that are immersed after five days of the festival. A majority of the Ganesh icons of the sarvanjanik mandals — mostly the larger Ganeshas — are immersed after the completion of seven or 10 days of the festival. The spots where the icons were immersed include Juhu beach, Dadar, Mahim, Powai lake, Kurla, Chembur, Trombay, Gorai, Marve and Aksa beach. Some devotees took the icons to the beaches and water bodies in hand carts, with small bands in tow. Aratis were performed and devotional songs sung before the icons were immersed.