A disturbing incident marred the joyous celebrations of Ganpati Visarjan in Pune on Tuesday, September 17th. CCTV footage captured a man firing shots outside a prominent shopping mall, sending shockwaves through the crowd. Videos circulating on social media show the man pulling out a gun and firing into the air, creating chaos and panic among the people present. According to a TimesNow report citing police officials, the motive behind the gunfire was to instill a sense of fear.
Tuesday saw a surge in activity on Pune’s streets as people enthusiastically participated in the immersion of Ganpati idols after ten days of festivities. Renowned idols like Kasba, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tukshibaug, and Kesariwada, known as `Manache’ Ganpati, were taken through Laxmi Road and immersed by 8 p.m. Another famous idol, Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganpati, was immersed by 9 p.m. Other prominent idols, such as Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, Babu Genu, and Akhil Mandai Mandal, began their processions later in the evening. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, and his wife, Sunetra, visited Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganpati and Kasba Ganpati to offer their prayers.
In the wake of the shooting incident, the Pune police took extra precautions to ensure the safety of devotees during Ganpati Visarjan. “Pune police on alert to bid farewell to Bappa! We are ready for the safety of devotees and citizens in immersion procession!! You also support us. Let us together perform Bappa’s Visarjan ceremony in Dimakha… Jai Hind Ganapati Bappa Moreya… Mangalmurthy Moreya…” Pune police wrote on X, their social media platform. To reinforce their commitment to safety, the Pune police deployed approximately 7,000 officers across the city.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations concluded on September 17th, marking the end of the ten-day festivities. Ganpati Visarjan, the ritual of immersing Lord Ganesha’s idol in water, symbolizes Lord Ganesha’s return to his celestial abode in Kailash. While the celebrations were generally joyous, this unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and security, even during festive occasions. The Pune police are actively investigating the incident and working to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.
