Overview
- The multi‑day Ganesh Chaturthi festival officially began on Monday, Sept. 14, with major pandals and temples across India drawing very large crowds for Pran Pratishtha ceremonies and cultural events.
- Mumbai and other cities put heavy security in place, with Mumbai reporting more than 16,800 police personnel deployed to control crowds and prepare for immersion processions.
- Several idol collapses in Mumbai in the days around the festival opening, including a Bhuleshwar collapse that killed two people and a crane‑related toppling in Malad, have focused scrutiny on idol rigging, scaffold strength and crowd safety procedures.
- Local administrations processed thousands of permits and tightened rules for mandaps, with organisers ordered to share locations and guest lists and state governments directing dedicated control rooms and special officers for coordination.
- Civic bodies are pushing eco‑friendly visarjan measures and building designated immersion tanks and lake facilities while issuing rules on sound, timings and traffic to limit pollution and manage procession routes.