MUMBAI: As the curtains come down on the festival of Ganeshotsav Sunday, long drawn visarjan yatras covered in gulal and led by drummers will head to immerse the idols after uttar puja.In the epicentre of Lalbaug, the idol of Ganesh Gully is the first to leave its pandal at 8.30am followed by Lalbaugcha Raja at 10.30am. The Raja's long winded procession reaches Girgaum Chowpatty at 4.00am the following morning, so immersion takes place a day after Anant Chaturdashi Mukhdarshan at this pandal closed at 6.00am Saturday. Collections counted so far for nine days amount to Rs 5.78 crore in cash, gold weighing 5 kg and silver 63 kg. The total averages Rs 7.5 crore.Meanwhile, the BMC announced its annual Ganeshotsav awards Saturday. The first prize went to Swapnakshay mandal of Model Town, Andheri West, which had installed a real biogas plant, water harvesting project and live terrarium to drive the theme of environmental conservation.At Anant Chaturdashi, roads leading to immersion sites come alive with colour. Voluntary organisations bring packaged meals for policemen on duty. A constable from Versova police station said, "Two NGOs provide us puri bhaji and pulao. Of course our officers also arrange meals for us with their own money. They later claim the bill from the police welfare fund."KN Bhatia Building near Prarthana Samaj is preparing multi-course meals for 1,200 policemen and government officers. Resident Hiten Sundhani said, "We have been doing this since 17 years. Breakfast is upma-chutney, while lunch is dal rice, veg korma, paratha, dhokla, shrikhand, salad, papad and buttermilk. The dinner menu comprises pav with patal bhaji, jeera rice, salad and papad."After the dhols fall silent and the deity has departed, a feeling of emptiness envelopes homes and mandals which had kept loving vigil over their god for 10 days.

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