by Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 14: Lakhs of people thronged the city's streets and seafronts on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, marking the end of ten-day-long festivities, to bid the elephant god Ganesha farewell.

Serial blasts in the national capital, high security and overcast weather with rains failed to deter the faithful as they went in large groups to immerse idols of different colours and various sizes.

Revellers lit fireworks, threw colours and danced in the streets to music as they travelled to immersion points.

Thousands gathered in the streets to view the departure of the city's most famous idol, Lalbaugcha Raja, as it was taken from where it was kept in central Mumbai.

People lined the route along which the idol was to be taken with many of whom were unable to visit the pandal taking the oppotunity to view it.

"This time the crowds at the Lalbaugcha Raja were so huge that I was unable to go and see the idol with my family. We plan to stand near a spot near my house where we shall view the idol as it passes and pay our respects," Siddesh Sharma, a resident of central Mumbai said.

Thousands of community idols and private idols are expected to be immersed at the city's seafronts on Sunday, with the maximum crowds expected to be seen at the Girgaum chowpatty in south Mumbai.

At least five lakh persons are expected to visit Girgaum chowpatty and thousands are expected to visit seafronts at Dadar in central Mumbai, Juhu and Powai lake in the suburbs.