T Narasipura: After a week of tension over the Ganesha idol immersion procession, celebrations passed off peacefully in T Narasipura on Friday, with elaborate security arrangements in place across the town. A Dalit organisation held a communal harmony march earlier in the day, followed by the Ganesha immersion procession involving hundreds of activists and BJP members.
Mysuru district police deployed additional personnel to prevent any untoward incident, with Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi supervising the arrangements.
Harmony march held before Ganesha procession
The communal harmony march was held around noon under the leadership of religious leader Jnanaprakash Swami. Participants included Bodhiratna Banteji, former mayor Purushotham and several others.
The march passed through the main roads of T Narasipura and was flagged off at Bhagavan Talkies Circle after floral tributes were offered to the statue of Sangolli Rayanna.
The organisers said the march was intended to promote communal unity at a time when the town had witnessed heightened tension over the Ganesha procession.
Later in the day, the Ganesha immersion procession began around 4 pm, with hundreds of right-wing activists and BJP members participating. Participants said the Ganesha festival was intended to bring the Hindu community together.
Police maintain tight security
The procession followed days of controversy over its proposed route. Hindu Jagarana Vedike had installed a Ganesha idol near the T Narasipura police station and announced plans to take the immersion procession through Link Road, where a mosque is located.
The decision to install the idol and announce the route came amid a dispute over remarks attributed to T Narasipura police inspector Dhananjay regarding the proposed procession route. Earlier reports said the inspector had cautioned organisers about taking the procession near a mosque without the required permission.
The issue subsequently became a political controversy, with BJP leaders including R Ashoka, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar and Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivatsa protesting against what they described as police restrictions on the celebrations.
Police subsequently strengthened security arrangements in the town ahead of Friday’s procession.
Crackers burst near mosque
During the Ganesha procession, activists burst crackers in front of a mosque. Police intervened and controlled the situation, following which the procession continued without any major incident being reported.
The peaceful conclusion of the procession brought an end to several days of tension surrounding the festival arrangements.
The police had also registered a case against a local reporter in connection with the controversy. According to police, the case concerned allegations of promoting enmity and hatred on religious grounds in relation to the circulation of footage involving the inspector. The reporter has denied wrongdoing and said he had recorded and posted the footage from a meeting as it was presented.
Muslim residents join Ganesha celebrations in Nagamangala
Meanwhile, a separate display of communal participation was witnessed in Nagamangala in Mandya district, where members of the Muslim community joined the Ganesha puja and immersion procession at AD Colony.
Muslim residents participated in the rituals and later joined the procession. When the procession passed in front of a local mosque, Muslim residents gathered along the route, offered flowers to the Ganesha idol and cheered the participants.
The participation came against the backdrop of communal tension that had affected Nagamangala during a Ganesha immersion procession two years ago. The latest celebrations were marked by participation from members of both communities.
The developments in T Narasipura and Nagamangala highlighted contrasting aspects of this year’s Ganesha celebrations in the region, with heightened security and a harmony march accompanying the festivities in T Narasipura, while Muslim residents participated in the celebrations in Nagamangala.