India, Sept. 8 -- In a break from tradition, Lalbaugcha Raja - the idol of one of the oldest and most famous Ganpati mandals in the city - was immersed at Girgaum Chowpatty late in the evening on Sunday, more than 12 hours after its usual time of immersion. Typically, the idol is immersed in the sea latest by 9am on the day after Anant Chaturdashi, which was not possible this year due to a technical snag, said officials.

"By the time our procession reached the chowpatty, high tide had already set in," said Sudhir Salavi, honorary secretary of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.

The procession with the 18-feet-tall idol set off from Lalbaug around 12pm on Saturday and reached Girgaum Chowpatty around 8am on Sunday, said vo...