HYDERABAD: Apart from the Ganapati Bappa Moriya chants and the ample dose of saffron scarves, what made a difference to this year’s Ganesh Nimajjan at the Hussainsagar Lake was the ‘Anna factor’.Stalls along the Basheerbagh-Tank Bund route put up banners like ‘I am Anna’ and ‘Bol India Anna Anna’.With the Tricolour fluttering atop, they also played patriotic slogans and prayers for a ‘corruption-free India’.A large number of people were seen wearing the Anna caps.The Goyal family, who wore Anna caps, came with a miniature Ganesh in a cradle, singing “Hum honge kamayab”.Besides the Anna fans, there were quite a few foreigners too.Geremy and Nicoles, who hail from England and have been working in Hyderabad for the past few months were ecstatic about the whole atmosphere.Geremy said,”I am overwhelmed with the reception we got here and will cherish this memory for a long long time.” A beaming Nicoles chipped in saying she felt completely safe and welcomed at the festival.More than 30 cranes were installed along the NTR Marg and Tank Bund to assist people during the immersion of big idols.Prasad, a GHMC lifeguard said, “There are two life guards near each crane to take control of the situation in case of any mishap during immersion.” The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has arranged for medical camps and temporary toilets for men and women along the procession route.The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and S e w e r a g e B o a r d (HMWS&SB) also installed numerous free drinking water camps across the area for the crowds.“We have been arranging free drinking water for devotees on the final day of immersion for the past so many years,” said a official.The stall-owners distributed mahaprasad and other food items and sang bhajans and item numbers too along with devotees.While most of the shops stayed shut, hawkers and peddlers served the devotees with chatpatas and cold drinks albeit at inflated prices.
Comments
0 comment