From idol immersions to funeral rites, Maharashtra faces the drought pinch

The vibrant beats of dhol-tashas and chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ faded into a sobering reality across Maharashtra this week as the 10-day annual Ganesh festival concluded on Friday and the State government on Saturday declared drought in 265 of the 358 talukas, including several parts of the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.

In Kalamb town, Dharashiv district (Marathwada), the local administration scrambled ahead of idol immersion day. Because the local Manjara river and surrounding water bodies were completely dry due to a glaring monsoon deficit, civic authorities had to resort to filling temporary ponds using water tankers. For idols taller than four feet, desperate pleas were made to reroute processions to a nearby stone quarry holding residual water.

“We didn’t even have water to immerse the idols. You can only imagine what is going to happen until the next monsoon,” said Balaji Adsul, a Kalamb resident.