Mumbai, September 15: Today is the last day to immerse the Ganesha idols into the water and preparations for the grand event that takes place on the 11th day of Ananta Chaturdashi every year, have been completed. Although the festival lasts all 11 days, people bring idols and immerse them in half a day, three days, five days or seven days too. Sarvajanik Pandals (Community Pandals) bring huge idols of the elephant headed God and celebrate the festival all 11 days and immerse it in the sea waters in a great procession, that also has a band, which plays songs as people rejoice and dance and make merry. However, at homes, people bring separate and small Ganesha Murtis (idols) and immerse then in water at their homes.
Ganesh Visarjan is the process of immersing the Ganesha idol into the water. The ritual marks the end of the festival, which is celebrated in an especially grand fashion across Maharashtra. During the Visarjan, the idol is immersed into the water body like the sea, lake, pond etc, and a final offering of sweets, flowers and coconuts is made to the idol. The street processions during this day are a feast for the eyes, with fervour and devotion in the air and dashes of colour flying everywhere. The air rings with celebrations and jubilation, as devotional and upbeat songs are sung and played, in the praise of the mighty Ganesha. Thousands of devotees join the street processions and travel miles on foot to bid good bye to their favorite God. ALSO READ: Ganesh Chaturthi 2016: Date, Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Fasting & Auspicious timings of Ganpati Festival
Ganesh Visarjan Muhurat
On the 11th day, there is a special auspicious timing at which the idol must be immersed in water. Several auspicious timings have been given for each Visarjan day. For today, the auspicious timings or Muhurats of immersing the idols in water are as given below:
Visarjan Muhurat for September 15, 2016-
11.03 to 12.34
12.34 to 14.05
14.05 to 15.35
17.06 to 18.37
18.37 to 20.06
20.06 to 21.35
24.34+ to 26.03+ hours
Note: People normally perform Visarjan during the afternoon time, or evening timings. Apart from Mumbai, the Visarjan also takes place in Thane, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Solapur, Amravati, Nanded, Sangli and Jalgaon.
Visarjan Vidhi
Vidhi is the process of offering the last prayers and offerings to the Ganesha idol, until its immersed into the water. The ritual is performed with great care and supreme devotion by the people, who are going to immerse the idol. The Vidhi includes the important How-to’s to immerse the Ganesha idol into the water. The most common doubts amongst the devotees are about how to perform the ritauls before immersing the idol and bidding their darling God goodbye. ALSO READ: Banjo hottie Nargis Fakhri feels Ganesh Chaturthi is the most thrilling festival!
Before taking the idol for immersion, Aarti (prayer) is performed in front of the idol, along with all the family members or all the members of the community to which the idol belongs. People get up early in the morning, bathe and perform the prayers to the idol. The usual Ganesha Aartis are performed and the Mantras are chanted, which fill the atmosphere with a positive and devotional vibes. The most popular Aartis are Jai Ganesh Deva and Sukh Karta Dukh Harta aartis and these can either be sung by people live, or sung to the accompaniment of a recorded cassette or song. The Aarti culminates in distribution of the Bhog or Prasad- food which is kept in front of the God and hence is said to have been blessed by the God.
Then begins the procession, which is taken to carry the Ganesha idol to the nearest water body.Before carrying the idol out for Visarjan, the Uttarang Puja is performed. The ritual involves five items- deep (oil lamps), pushp (flowers), dhoop (incense), gandh (fragrance) and naivedya (food)- and these are offered to the idol. When the time for visarjan arrives, all members of the family or that particular community or members of the pandal should gather around the idol, or the vehicle that is carrying the idol, and perform the visarjan Aarti, before setting off. After the Visarjan Aarti and the distribution of the prasad, one of the family member should very slowly and slightly move the Ganpati Murti, about 1 inch forward. ALSO READ: Anant Chaturdashi 2016: 10 Best Ganpati Visarjan Slogans in Hindi and Marathi
This ritual should be done, just 5-10 minutes before taking the idol out of the house or the community compound. The ritual indicates to the God that his idol is being taken by the family, very gently, for the immersion. While taking the idol out, the family members should thank the God for coming to their home and making it his own for the 10 days that He was there. The family members should thank the God for bringing in prosperity and auspiciousness, and for taking away all the difficulties of the family. Don’t forget to ask pardon for your mistakes and request him to come to your house next year as well (in case you indeed are planning to bring the idol home next year).
The idol is also ideally taken around the house- to the master bedrooms and sitting halls and common rooms- before it is taken out of the house. Some water is also sprinkled on the person, who is giving Bappa a tour of the house. After exiting the house, one person should take the coconut and circle it thrice over the head of the Murti. The coconut should then be broken on the ground and kept aside. This should not be distributed as prasad, but should be immersed in water along with the idol.
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