Ganesh Visarjan 2017

Ganeshotsav or Ganesh-Utsav, which begins on Ganesha Chaturthi, culminates on Anant Chaturdashi. Hence, Ganeshotsav is celebrated for 10 days in the month of Bhadrapada. The last day of festivity is known as Ganesha Visarjan. Ganesha Visarjan is also known as Vinayaka Nimajjanam in Telugu speaking regions.

On the eleventh day, the statue of Lord Ganesha is immersed into the 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 the chanting of Lord Ganesha. “Ganapati Bappa Morya” and “Ganesh Maharaj Ki, Jai” are few of the famous slogans which are chanted throughout the procession.

In Mumbai, 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 rather performing it on the 11th day as per their family tradition. The idol of Lord Ganesha can be immersed in the water of tub or bucket.

Ganesha Visarjan Significance

The Clay statues of Lord Ganesha are immersed into the water bodies or in sea. Gradually the clay dissolves into water and Ganesha’s image disappears. This ritual is designed by our ancestors to draw attention to the ‘ephemeral nature of life and worldly things’, Showing us that nothing in this mortal world lasts forever. It celebrates the fact of life of Creation (Idol construction), Perpetuation and finally Visarjan or immersion (Destruction) in water bodies with fun and fair, as celebration pointing to the fact and Showing that death is imperative/essential for creation of new.