Anant Chaturdashi-Visarjan-Biding Farewell To Lord Ganesh
August 28, 2007
Lord Ganesh is Supreme Reality. He is eternal and the endower of joy and glory to those who worship Him. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi breaks all the barriers of caste and religion and makes people forget their difference and embrace each other with goodwill. The household celebrations are done to bring peace, prosperity and happiness amongst its members with His blessings as He is the Lord of abundance.
During this festival, the Siddhivinayak temple of Mumbai telecasts the live coverage of the rituals and Aartis performed before the deity on various television channels. This helps those who are unable to attend it because of the never-ending queues of devotees that throng the temple from all over India and abroad.
(These procession photographs of the immersion are from Lalbaugh Cha Raja’s website)
According to the beliefs and understanding of the people, the immersion of the idols takes place on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th or 10th day while there are others who perform this on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th or the 10th day. Many families who have idols consecrated at home perform the immersion ceremony after a day. This is because scriptures state that the clay idol which is transformed into a divine being retains His sanctity for a day.
The reason for immersion is a way of saying goodbye to the Lord who descends down on earth from Ganesh Lok to partake in the festivities. We invoke Him and He willingly comes and stays with us. So when the time comes, He returns to His abode. This is marked by the ritual of immersion.
The last day of celebrations is the tenth day and it is known as Anant Chaturdashi. Centuries ago, the idols were carried in palanquins but now He is taken in beautifully decorated trucks and floats. The smaller ones are taken in hand carts or are placed on the backseats of cars. Large processions of devotees accompanied with live band, drum beats sing and dance, sprinkling Gulal (Red colored powder popularly used in celebrating the festival of colors, Holi) and amidst fireworks proceed with Him to the water front. The immersion takes place in sea, rivers, ponds and lakes.
“Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya” (O Lord Ganesh, return quickly the following year) chanting this, the followers bid Him farewell.
Lord Ganesh returns to His abode taking away all the unhappiness, obstacles and troubles of His devotees, promising to return again the next year. This ten day festival can be best understood by experiencing it first hand.
©Nayna Chakrabarty, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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7 Responses to “Anant Chaturdashi-Visarjan-Biding Farewell To Lord Ganesh”
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Ganpati bappa morya
I wish to fast and celebrate the 11 day festival of chathurti, but I’m unsure of the date to start and the ritual to perform. Please can someone advise.
Thank you in anticipation.
Hi Davina,
Ganesh Chaturthi will be on 23rd August 2009. You can fast on that day and perform the rituals, prepare sweets like Modak, Boondi laddoo, Peda (receipes are listed. Kindly look in the similar posts section- Favorite Food Of Lord Ganesh), chant the mantras and prayers as mentioned in our previous posts. We have covered all aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi in depth. You can also familarize with the stories that people share and the legend of why we should not look at the Moon on Chaturthi. It also has the remedy in case you do look at the Moon on that day.
Use the search box within this blog and you will find all answers. Incase you have any more questions, feel free to write in. We will surely guide you in the best way we can.
is it bad to see moon on anant chaturdashi day?
Hello Savita Suvarna,
It is not bad to see the moon on anant chaturdashi but on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The reason for it is explained in our previous post. It also gives the remedy incase someone has seen the moon. Follow this link
http://nayna.in/blog/divine-grace/the-moon-punished-understand-the-divinity-behind-lord-ganeshs-actions/
I need to know what are the mantras and rituals for visrjan of pooja samagri after pooja and yagna.
thanks regards
Dear Amit Sharma,
Kindly consult a qualified Vedic priest/ Pujari for these rituals.
Best Wishes