Hyderabad is famed for its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and this comes to the fore during every Ganesh festival. Even as the people were wonderstruck by the immersion of the majestic Khairatabad Ganesh idol, a remarkable story unfolded behind the scenes. Many of the crane operators, crucial to the immersion process, were Muslims.
These operators see their role as a blessing. Syed Asaf, a crane operator for nearly a decade, has manned the city’s biggest crane, which handled the flow and movement of the 70-feet tall Khairatabad idol. His crane, with an 80-metre boom run and 350-tonne capacity, is typically used in cement plants. For the past one week, it has been dedicated to the immersion process.
“It’s a once-a-year job for us, very different from our usual work. The pressure is immense, but it’s worth the effort. It’s a blessing to be trusted with something so critical,” said Asaf. Operators like Asaf conduct trials with weights until the very last day, ensuring every lift is flawless.
Yadaiah, a Christian cook, was hired to prepare meals for ‘annadaanam’ on Tuesday, as thousands gathered for a meal after the immersion. “My job is to cook tasty and nutritious meals. It was no different today, except I received great compliments for the food,” Yadaiah said.