Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Tradition And Significance Of Ganpati Visarjan

These days, the entire country is celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with great enthusiasm. Ganpati idols have been placed in neighbourhoods and homes. The festival concludes with the immersion of the Lord Ganesh idol, but have you ever wondered how this tradition of immersion started and whether small idols can be kept at home permanently? An astrologer has provided detailed information on the religious and cultural significance of this tradition.

The tradition of Ganpati visarjan first began in Maharashtra. It primarily blends religious beliefs and folk traditions. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the ‘Remover of Obstacles,’ and through the visarjan, the message is conveyed that the Lord removes all obstacles and then returns to his divine abode.

Additionally, it is said that Lokmanya Tilak started publicly celebrating Ganesh Utsav in 1893 to unite society and raise awareness among Indians against British rule. Since then, this tradition has been completed every year with the immersion of the idol after Ganesh Utsav. From a religious perspective, it is also believed that Lord Ganesha comes to earth briefly and then returns to his heavenly abode.

Many people question whether it is necessary to immerse small Lord Ganesh idols. On this matter, an astrologer explained that from a religious point of view, the installation of idols is done for a specific period, and it is essential to immerse it with proper rituals.

If the idol is installed religiously, it must be immersed after the stipulated time. If this is not done, it can be considered a flaw according to religious beliefs. However, keeping the idol only for decoration or worship without formal installation or immersion is not considered a religious fault.

The significance of Lord Ganesha’s idol immersion is that once the worship of Lord Ganesha is completed, he is immersed in water, symbolising the cycle of life- birth and death. The immersion also conveys the message that everything in this world is temporary, and we should understand the message of merging with the Supreme Being.