57 ft Lord Ganesh idol to be installed in Khairatabad

The idol of Lord Ganesh to be installed at the famous pandal at Khairatabad here for worship during Vinayaka Chavithi festival would be 57 feet tall this year, the organisers said.

The idol installed at the Khairatabad pandal is considered to be the tallest idol in the country.

S Sankarayya, a freedom fighter, founded Sri Ganesh Utsav Committee, Khairatabad in 1954.

Sankarayya's brother Sudarshan has been continuing the tradition of Ganesh puja at Khairatabad.

Thousands of devotees visit the 11 day-event of Ganesh Utsav.

On the 11th day, the huge Ganesh idol is immersed in Hussain Sagar lake with the help of large cranes after a long procession.

The height of the idol is being decreased by one feet from 60 feet during the last few years.

The idol is prepared as per a particular spiritual theme every year.

The idol this year would be called 'Sri Sapthamukha Kala Sarpa Maha Ganapathi' with the idol having seven heads, Sudarshan told PTI.

The theme is selected as per the advice of religious scholars that it would bring good rains and prosperity for the country, he said.

The idol this year is being prepared with Plaster of Paris (PoP) without chemicals, sculptor Chinnaswamy Rajendran said.

Though the organisers sought to make a clay idol in deference to environmental concerns, PoP is being used as the clay idol may not withstand rainfall and the garlands thrown at it, he added.

This year, Vinayaka Chavithi would be celebrated on September 13.