Only 55.82 per cent of Ganesh idol immersions that took place on Thursday, as part of the one-and-a-half-day immersions, were carried out in artificial ponds created by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) across the city. As of 3 pm on Thursday, 575 Ganesh idols were immersed in Mumbai, of which 321 were immersed in artificial lakes, according to information from the BMC. Only three of these idols were sarvajanik (community) idols, of which two were immersed in artificial lakes.

In compliance with the Bombay High Court’s directives, the civic body has set up 288 artificial ponds for immersion of Ganesh Idols this festival season, approximately 88 more than last year. The high court had issued directives that plaster of Paris (PoP) idols up to six feet in height should be immersed only in artificial ponds for Ganeshotsav and Navratri.

The Maharashtra government’s directives drafted for local bodies on August 1, 2025, have mandated more artificial ponds this time. Moreover, all idols under six feet in height should be immersed in artificial lakes, according to the state`s directives. A senior civic official told mid-day, “All the idols that were not immersed in artificial lakes are over six feet in height. They have been immersed in the sea.” However, many citizens were unaware of the high court directives and turned up at Chowpatty, Dadar and other beaches in the city for immersion.