Photos: Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations begin in India amid COVID-19 restrictions

As 10-day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi begin amid COVID-19 outbreak, a grand 'arti' of Lord Ganesha was performed in several parts of the country. | Above: A devotee worships Lord Ganesha on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in New Delhi.

On the occasion, the temples and Ganpati idols are beautifully decorated. Devotees are visiting the temples to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha. However, the number of people arriving at the temples is less number as compared to previous years due to COVID-19 restrictions. | Above: Devotees carry an idol of Lord Ganesha, in Karad.

Special prayers were conducted to the grandly decorated Lord in temples across the country by the priests.

Many houses wore a festive look as people held special prayers at home too. | Above: A woman participates in a prayer at her house in Ahmedabad.

At the temples, priests were seen following COVID-19 protocols, covering their faces with mask and maintaining social distancing to combat the virus.

After 10 days of festivities, Lord Ganesha’s statue is immersed in the water, which is known as Ganpati Visarjan. Devotees rejoice, chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, as they bid farewell to Him.

Mahant Divya Giri along with devotees offers prayers on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, at Mankameshwar temple in Lucknow

Yakub Bhati a devotee offers prayers to Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi in Bikaner.

A man carries an idol of Ganesha after purchasing it on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, in New Delhi

Devotees offer prayers to Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Nagaon District

A girl prays before the eco-friendly chocolate Ganesha idol made by Just Bake on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Ludhiana

Devotees offer prayers at Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy temple on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, in Thiruvananthapuram

A devotee wearing a PPE kit offers prayers at a community puja pandal on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata

Devotees perform prayers in front of an idol of Lord Ganesha at a Temple in Amritsar

Devotees pray at an event organised by Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Samiti at Sector 31, in Gurugram

People bringing the idol of Lord Ganesha to their home on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai