Enthusiasts brave downpour to cheer visarjan processions

Inga Mensel,a German exchange student,walked with the procession along with her parents. “I joined SP College as an exchange student in the 11th grade. I have attended the immersion processions before but I wanted to share the spectacle with my parents this year. So,I had them fly in from Germany.”

Next up,the Tambadi Jogeshwari Mandal was led by a little boy dressed as Shivaji Maharaj and three girls in ethnic attire on horseback. “One of the girls is playing Jija Bai,” says Deepali Shaligram,a volunteer.

Tambadi Jogeshwari had more entertainment to offer. In the centre of the sea of people was Man Soni,a kathak dancer from Baroda,now based in Pune. “I have been a part of the Tambadi Jogeshwari procession for a few years now. I perform kathak pieces as a part of the revelry,” says Soni,who came dressed as Krishna.

Guruji Talim made a grand entry next around 3.20 pm with an assortment of performances by students of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Boys Military School (NSCBMS). “We are presenting ethnic dances from seven states including Maharashtra,Goa and Assam,” says Anand Wadekar,a school employee.

Under the guidance of their sports teacher Nijay Kodre,the boys from NSCBMS put up a taekwondo routine and participated in an army-styled march past.

Tulshibaug Mandal’s procession reached Tilak Road soon after Guruji Talim but was met by a heavy downpour,making the spectators running for cover. But the pathaks accompanying the procession — Swaroop Vardhini,Hind Tarun Mandal and Gaja Lakshmi — played their instruments,forcing many to come out and dance in the rain. Their theme too was centred on brutality against women and the mandal staged an act based on the death sentence given to the four accused in the Delhi gangrape case.

The Keshriwada mandal,last of the five manacha Ganpati mandals,marched in to the beats of Sri Ram Pathak,Shiva Mudra Pathak and Shaurya Pathak around 5.30 pm. Pathak members had walked a long way and waited in queue for hours before they could put up their act. Despite the exhaustion caused by the giant dhol strapped onto their waists,the dhol and dhwaj pathaks gave the audience a startling performance. “We have been practising for the past one and a half months for this day. We have prepared a special garba routine and hope everybody has fun,” said Omkar Upadhyay of Shaurya Pathak.