Hyderabad: Ganesh Navratri Celebrations Begin with Colorful Aagaman Processions
The festival of Shri Ganesh Navratri is set to start on Saturday, coinciding with the occasion of Chaturthi. However, the city of Hyderabad has already come alive with vibrant ‘Aagaman’ processions, welcoming ‘Ganapati Bappa’ to various pandals. These processions have filled the atmosphere with excitement and color.
Typically, large pandal organizers bring their idols on Chaturthi. But this year, to avoid last-minute rush and traffic congestion in busy areas like Dhoolpet, they have started bringing the idols well in advance. These organizers have been seen leading grand processions to welcome Bappa into the pandals, marking the beginning of the ten-day festival. For many, the festival is a chance to showcase that their idol and procession are the best. While traditionally, processions were mainly associated with immersion ceremonies, the trend of Aagaman, or welcoming the deity, has gained popularity in recent years.
In areas like Ramnagar, Asifnagar, Nampally, Mallepally, Secunderabad, Gowlipura, and Begum Bazar, colorful Aagaman processions have been taking place over the past week as Bappa arrives at the pandals. One of the most notable Ganesh pandals, organized by Mohammad Meher Siddiqui—popularly known as Ramnagar Siddiqui—claims to have introduced the Aagaman tradition in Hyderabad. This year, the Aagaman at Ramnagar was celebrated in a grand manner.
Pandal organizers in the city have noted that Mumbaikars (people from Mumbai) have a special flair for celebrating the festival, and the Aagaman processions have become a big hit. P Vishal Raj of Sri Balaji Youth Association in Patel Nagar, Nampally, mentioned that just as thousands of devotees fill the streets on the final day to bid farewell to Ganapati, they are now also gathering to welcome him. The Aagaman trend is quickly catching on in Hyderabad. This year, the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Samithi will also hold an Aagaman at 7:30 pm on Friday.
Vishal further shared that apart from the installation and pooja, his favorite part of the festival is the procession on the last day. He emphasized that they plan everything in advance to avoid any last-minute price surges. Contributions for the festival are made voluntarily by friends, without the need for ‘chanda’ (forced donations). He added that the greatest satisfaction comes when people take pictures and videos of their troop, as everyone wants to ensure that their area’s Ganapati is the best.
After witnessing the Aagaman processions over the past fortnight, the city of Hyderabad will now immerse itself in devotion for the next ten days starting Saturday. The celebrations will include events like ‘Samuhik Aarti’, distribution of ‘prasadam’, and ‘Annadanam’ (community meals) throughout the festival.
