As I wrote, I hit the jackpot when I stumbled upon the park not far from the Fitzgerald Bridge, south end. One of the pots I mentioned, that I think flowers were put into, is at left. The river is at the bottom of the steps.

Proud owners of this Ganpati bring it to be set beside others on the wall by the stairs.

Some teenagers asked to have their picture taken. The girl at right had her eyes closed so they posed again.

And here is the previous Ganesh/Ganpati on the wall.

This little girl wanted me to take pictures of nothing but her. She was very cute and posed in several different positions such as this and waited for me to get the picture.

A lot of her friends wanted their picture taken too.

A family performs the ceremony of immersing Ganpati in this water tank several times and the letting him sink. The father did the honors. A police woman, left, keeps an eye on the crowd.

On the way to the water this family stopped so I could take a picture, when they saw my camera. The thing that really struck me was just how much this is a family activity for a great many people.

Snacks were available but didn't seem much in demand.

And there were rides and games for the very small children.

More Ganpatis arrive in the park.

Outside the park the dancers of a large procession just arriving saw my camera and wanted to make sure I got some good shots.

Some floats were small.

Some were very small.

Flowers were for sale in several shops. This one was by my hotel.

Some processions were quite large.

Most groups were families.

Many businesses were decorated for the celebration. I didn't get pictures of the lights and decorations I saw while going home from work, but the gas station just north of my hotel was decorated with lights and I got a shot of that as I returned to my room Sept. 6, 2006.

The paper shows the great amounts of ocher that are thrown in the air and on people. Some of the streets, going to work the next day, were all red. It also shows just how elaborate the idols of Lord Ganesh (Ganpati) can be

The next Saturday, with my sore leg, I went back to the Gandhi National Memorial. Along the way I passed a great many trucks, such as the one here that was nicely decorated. It is common to see decorative painting on trucks in Pune. [I believe that his picture was not in the emails.]

These boys were riding like this as we passed. I was impressed by the strength of the boy on the bottom. As you can see, they were happy to get a picture taken. [I believe that his picture was not in the emails.]

This is a picture inside the Gandhi National Memorial. [I believe that his picture was not in the emails.]

Gandhi path sign. [I believe that his picture was not in the emails.]

The memorial occupies the former Palace of the Aga Khan. Gandhi was held prisoner here by the British for some time. His personal secretary died here, of natural causes, during the captivity.

I took an auto rickshaw back to the hotel after seeing the memorial. My leg was too sore at that point for any more walking. [I believe that his picture was not in the emails.]