Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations end with the immersion or Visarjan of clay Ganapati idol in water. Anant Chaturthasi is the most significant day for Ganesha Visarjan.
Hindus worship Brahman or the Supreme Soul present in all animate and inanimate. But for majority of the people it is not possible to worship this formlessness. They need a form to pray to, to seek help, to cry and to take blessings. Ganesha is ‘OM’ the primordial sound or the first ‘Vaak.’ Nirguna Para Brahman takes the form of Ganesha. Clay and water is mixed to give form to the formlessness. Each person brings Ganesha in clay idol form into the home. This is the Supreme Being arriving at home. After the celebrations, it is time to accept the eternal cosmic law that which took form has to become formless again. It is a never ending cycle (Chakra).
Before immersing Idol of Shri Ganesh the uttarpuja is performed. After performing this ritualistic worship, the Idol is shifted slightly from its place. Uttarpuja means bidding farewell to Shri Ganesh with due reverence. Thereafter, Arati should be performed and the worship concluded by offering mantrapushpanjali. Everyone should offer akshata onto Shri Ganapati’s hand and move the Idol a little with the right hand. An important point regarding the immersion of Shri Ganesh murti is that the divinity infused in the clay murti by consecration cannot remain in it. This means, that no matter when the Ganesh murti is immersed, the divinity in it is already lost after uttarpuja. Though the divinity in the murti is lost, the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) remains in murti for many days. Due to Chaitanya in murtis of Shri Ganapati on immersion it purifies the water. With the flowing water, this Chaitanya reaches far and wide and many people benefit from them. This water evaporates, too; hence, it makes the atmosphere sattvik.
On this eleventh day the statue of Lord Ganesha is immersed into water body, preferably in a river, lake or the sea. After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and sweets, the statues of Lord Ganesha are taken to the water body through the street procession with much fanfare. Thousands of devotees join the procession and fill the whole atmosphere with chanting of Lord Ganesha. “Ganapati Bappa Morya” “Pudchiya Varshi Lovkarya!” and “Ganesh Maharaj Ki, Jai” are few of the famous slogans which are chanted throughout the procession.
In Mumbai, Sarvajanic Ganesha Visarjan is performed under the guidance of Ganpati Mandals. The street procession is accompanied with Dhol, Tasha and the other traditional instruments. Ganesha Visarjan continues throughout the night till the next morning.
Few families perform Ganesha Visarjan on the 3rd, 5th or 7th day if not performing it on the 11th day as per their family tradition
A child is crying during Ganesh Visarjan
Because his best Friend, a family member is going.
This is the beauty of Sanatan Dharma. Our relation with God is not like Master & Slaves, it is like a friend, a family member. The Gods we worship don’t ask us to fear them. They ask us to walk on path of Righteousness so that we don’t have to fear anybody. And everyone is free to choose their own path as ultimately all path lead to Parmatma. We spread message of Love & Peace. Not just one but we all are children of God, we all are their messengers.
This is true religious freedom, we get only in Sanatan Dharma.
