Overview

• Maharashtra observes a public holiday as Ganesh Chaturthi starts, following the state’s move to accord Ganeshotsav official festival status with schools, banks and government offices closed.
• The Bombay High Court’s order in force through March 2026 requires idols up to 6 feet to be immersed only in artificial tanks, permits taller idols in natural water bodies with safeguards, and allows PoP idols subject to marking, recovery and scientific disposal.
• Civic bodies scale up eco-focused logistics with artificial immersion sites including a new pond at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park and 429 tanks across Pune, along with CCTV, lifeguards, safety ropes, portable toilets and Nirmalya Kalash collection points.
• Mumbai Police deploy over 17,000 personnel with drone and AI-enabled surveillance across 11,000 CCTV cameras, backed by SRPF, RAF and other units for processions and immersion days.
• Pimpri-Chinchwad assigns 2,727 police personnel with 45 immersion spots and planned traffic diversions, while Mumbai’s apex mandal body urges apolitical celebrations and Marathi promotion as the city prepares for 12,000 public mandals and over two lakh household idols, with rain forecasts prompting precautions.