Traditional prayers, chants of 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' and sweet offerings of 'laddoos' and 'modaks' by devotees marked the commencement of the Ganesh festival in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Monday, 2 September.
The 10-day long festival is being held this year amid the looming clouds of economic slowdown and the devastation caused by floods after heavy rains in some parts of the state.
As the festival began on Monday morning, idols of different shapes and sizes of the elephant-headed God, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and considered as a symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, were installed at the sarvanjik (community) mandals and at homes by devotees.
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President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday greeted the people of India on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi.
"The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesh, who epitomises learning, knowledge and prosperity. These represent values and goals that we must imbibe to achieve national development and welfare for all sections of society," said Kovind through a statement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari offers prayer at his residence in Nagpur, on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi greeted people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi on Monday, saying it is a festival that symbolises the cultural unity of the country and brings people together.
"I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to all fellow Indians on the auspicious occasion of 'Ganesh Chaturthi'. Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival, which symbolises the cultural unity of the country and brings people together in an atmosphere of happiness," Sonia Gandhi said in her message to the people.
The Delhi government issued on Monday a revised list of 129 sites where artificial ponds have been dug up for immersion of idols during the festive season.
In a bid to reduce the pollution load on the Yamuna river, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has asked puja organisers to immerse the idols in the artificial ponds built at designated sites across all 11 revenue districts of the national capital, PTI reported.
Of the 129 sites, 15 are in East Delhi, 8 in north, 11 in New Delhi, 7 in central Delhi, 12 in south, 15 in southwest, 16 in northwest, 8 in Shahdara, 10 in northeast, 19 in west and 8 in southeast Delhi.