A Durga idol immersion procession in Malegaon, Maharashtra, was targeted by stone pelters on Wednesday night after coloured powder allegedly fell on a house. The incident led to tension and a confrontation, though no injuries were reported. Police intervened, deployed additional forces, and completed the immersion rituals by Thursday morning, identifying suspects and appealing for peace.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that only followers of 'Sanatan Dharma' would be permitted to touch Durga idols during immersion in the Hooghly river, citing religious traditions. He also reviewed extensive security and safety arrangements for the immersion process, including NDRF involvement and precautions for spectators at Taki, following a recent stampede incident.
The count included 691 sarvajanik (public festivity) idols, 59,706 household idols, and 37 Hartalika idols.
Several drownings and missing persons reported across Maharashtra during the immersion of Ganesh idols following the Ganesh festival.
Despite the delay, thousands of devotees, who came to bid farewell to Lalbaugcha Raja, continued to wait at the chowpatty.
Police in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, have detained two individuals, including a minor, for allegedly attempting to set an Islamic flag on fire during a Durga idol immersion procession. The incident occurred near a mosque, leading to a case being registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A class 9 student was fatally stabbed during a Durga idol immersion procession in Pitampura, northwest Delhi, following a dispute over a social media comment made a year ago. Four juveniles have been apprehended in connection with the murder.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath denounced the violence and directed the administration to communicate with religious organisations and get the idol immersions done on time.
Kolkata Police are seeking court permission to collect voice samples from two arrested individuals in connection with the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede. This is to match their voices with loudspeaker announcements that allegedly caused panic, leading to the death of 19 people on October 17. The investigation involves examining audio/video footage and statements from 60 people, while the puja pandal is being preserved for further inquiry.
At least eight people drowned and several others went missing after they were swept away in the Mal river due to flash floods during idol immersion on Vijayadashami Jalpaiguri, a senior official said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered immediate action against those who allegedly attacked a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi district, stating that any insult to the state's culture will not be tolerated. Following his directive, 13 people have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and AASU president Utpal Sarma also condemned the incident, emphasising the importance of Bihu to Assamese identity.
Four individuals, including an aide to Samajwadi Party MP Laxmikant, alias Pappu Nishad, have been arrested in connection with the abduction of Vishal Kumar. Kumar had previously filed a complaint against the MP under the Prevention of Atrocity Act. Police rescued Vishal Kumar within 24 hours, thwarting a plan to take him to Ayodhya and kill him.
Three individuals were injured in a clash involving firing and stabbing between two groups in Delhi's Govindpuri area, suspected to be due to old enmity. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred during idol immersion festivities.
Scores of people, some armed with sticks, walked in the funeral cortege of a youth killed during a Durga idol immersion procession in Bahraich amid cries for justice from the family and others on Monday, as tension escalated with shops being burnt down and angry crowds out in the streets.
Mumbai is abuzz with Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations as Ganesha idols arrive in homes and pandals across the city. The 11-day festival, marked by devotional chants, elaborate pujas, and vibrant decorations, culminates in grand immersions on Anant Chaturdashi. The city is adorned with lights, and markets are bustling, while authorities have deployed extensive security measures to ensure safe festivities, despite recent idol collapse incidents.
Mumbai witnessed the emotional immersion of iconic Ganesh idols like Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpokhlicha Chintamani on Anant Chaturthi, marking the end of the 12-day Ganesh festival. Marathon processions, lasting over 21 hours, saw vast crowds of devotees participating, with significant security and civic arrangements in place for safe immersions and subsequent cleanup operations.
The Durga idol of Chorbagan Sarbojanin will be immersed on Saturday under strict police supervision, even as the investigation into the stampede that claimed 19 lives continues. The immersion was cleared by the SIT, which directed the puja pandal be preserved. Forensic experts have raised concerns about ventilation, and police have arrested two announcers, bringing the total to nine. One announcer's Facebook post after arrest has raised questions.
Mumbai resonated with 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' chants and dhol-tasha beats as devotees immersed Ganesh idols on Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 12-day festival. Over 430 idols were immersed by noon, with no untoward incidents reported, as elaborate arrangements by police and BMC ensured smooth proceedings.
Two individuals died and five others, including two children, sustained injuries after a large Ganesh idol of 'Bhuleshwaracha Raja' collapsed during its arrival ceremony in south Mumbai. The incident occurred on Saturday night, prompting immediate rescue efforts and hospitalisation of the injured.
Immersions of several big idols, including the popular Lalbaugcha Raja, continued into Friday morning, the official added.
The HC was hearing three PILs challenging the restrictions on immersion of idols at the end of the five-day Durga Puja festival.
The immersed idols included 3,831 community idols and 31,736 of those installed at homes, he said.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya's comments recalling the role of non-Bengali communities during the 1946 communal riots and alleging past restrictions on Durga Puja have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the TMC, Congress, and CPI(M). Bhattacharya appealed for unity for peaceful Durga Puja celebrations, while opposition leaders accused him of divisive politics and distorting history.
The court asked the state government to chalk out designated routes for immersion and tazia processions.
A Fast Track Court in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, has sentenced three men to death and one to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a policeman's wife and their 11-year-old daughter in 2024, a case that also involved sexual assault.
Ganesh mandals in Mumbai have requested the Maharashtra government to clarify the implementation of a recent Bombay High Court order on noise pollution during immersion processions. The order mandates a Rs 1 lakh security deposit and legal action for violations, causing confusion among organisers as the festival concludes.
Former BJP MP Pratap Simha has been booked by police in T Narasipura, Mysuru, for allegedly delivering a provocative speech during a Ganesha idol procession. The FIR was registered following a complaint by a PSI, accusing Simha of making derogatory remarks against an inspector. Simha claims the FIR is politically motivated and vows to challenge it in court.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede, which killed 19 people, was primarily due to human error. He visited victims' families, assured assistance, and announced an inquiry by a retired judge, with the report expected within three months. The CM also plans to meet puja committees on October 26 to discuss future safety measures.
The order will be effective till March next year for the festivals that require immersion of idols of deities, including those made of Plaster of Paris (PoP).
Four men were electrocuted and three others injured when a live power cable snapped and fell on them while they slept inside a Ganesh pandal in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. A preliminary probe suggests a short circuit caused the wire to break, with the incident occurring after power supply resumed.
'Earlier, Ganeshotsav was social. Now it is all about social media.'
At least two persons were drowned and another seven feared dead during immersion of idols of Lord Ganesha in the Yamuna on Wednesday in two separate incidents, police said.
The Bombay High Court strongly criticised the Pune administration's decision to ban alcohol sales for 10 days during the Ganesh festival, questioning why Pune was singled out for such restrictions while other regions were not. The court deemed the blanket ban arbitrary and stigmatising for Pune residents, urging the administration to withdraw the order or face judicial intervention.
The Mumbai civic body collected 508 tonnes of 'nirmalya' from natural water bodies and artificial ponds after the Ganesh festival. Akshay Kumar and Amruta Fadnavis participated in a cleanliness drive.
Thousands of devotees gathered in Mumbai to bid farewell to Lalbaugcha Raja and other Ganesh idols, marking the end of the 10-day Ganesh festival. Security was tight following a threat message.
A case has been registered against BJP leader and MLC C T Ravi for allegedly making inflammatory comments during a Ganesha idol immersion event in Maddur town. The charges stem from a speech targeting the minority community during a protest against stone pelting at a previous Ganesha procession.
'...in which our names are written with our phone numbers.'
'The idol was not being worshipped for years. We decided to immerse it respectfully in the Ganga.'
Faithfuls thronged the streets of Mumbai for immersion processions of Ganesh idols on Anant Chaturdashi, marking the end of the 10-day Ganpati festival.
Karnataka police are investigating a stone pelting incident that occurred during a Ganesha idol immersion procession in Maddur. The investigation aims to determine if the incident was pre-planned, especially considering the lights went off during the event. 22 people have been arrested and the situation is currently under control.
