The citizens,who witnessed high security arrangements since Wednesday,heaved a sigh of relief as no untoward incidents were reported till Thursday evening. The processions for Ganesh visarjan passed through the city streets peacefully. Ahead of the visarjan,Barodians,especially those living in the walled city,were highly concerned about the communal disturbances often occurring during the festival. Vadodara witnessed one of the most peaceful Ganesh Visarjan this year; with 1,770 Ganesh puja pandals taking out colourful yet loud processions from the various parts of the city. At Sur Sagar Lake about 25 cranes,in place of the regular eight were kept ready by the civic body to help the devotees to immerse the idols. Bonhomie and celebrations prevailed in communally sensitive areas of the city including Fatehpura,Yakutpura and Panigate localities under constant vigil of at least 500 policemen armed with rubber bullets and self-loading rifles. The processions were taken out under the watchful eyes of video cameras. On the other hand,Muslims were seen greeting Hindus and welcoming Lord Ganesha. Kalupura Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal and Pitambar Pol Sarvajanik Puja Mandal,which were in the eye of the storm last year for their alleged involvement in the Yakutpura disturbances,were on the street at 5 in the evening. At Sur Sagar,devotees having small Ganesh idols in their hands for immersion were cheered by the shouts of Ganapati Bappa Maurya. By 5 in the evening,the banks of the lake were crowded with a large number of devotees dancing to the pounding beats of the DJs. However,since most of the exit and entry points to the lake were regulated by a big police posse,the crowds were more organised as idols were immersed in the lake water.
