Ganesh Visarjan

Ganesha Visarjan can be done on the same day of Ganesha Chaturthi after Ganesha Puja. Most Puja Vidhi(s) of Hindu deities include either Visarjan or Utthapana at the end of the Puja. However, Ganesha Visarjan on the same day of Ganesha Chaturthi is less popular.

Ganesha Visarjan which is done on the next day of Ganesha Chaturthi is known as one and half day Ganesha Visarjan. It is also one of the popular days to perform Ganesha Visarjan.

Ganesha devotees, who do Visarjan on the next day of Ganesha Chaturthi, perform Ganesha Puja during afternoon and take the Ganapati idols for Visarjan after Madhyahna which is equivalent to midday as per Hindu division of the day.

As the installation of Ganesha idol was done on previous day during Madhyahna and is taken out for Visarjan on the next day during second half of the day, this type of Visarjan is known as one and half day Ganesha Visarjan.

Although the day of Anant Chaturdashi is the most significant day to perform Ganesha Visarjan, many families do it on the 3rd or 5th or 7th day from the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. It is important to note that all these days are in odd numbers. Even the most important day of Ganesha Visarjan, which falls on Anant Chaturdashi day, is the 11th day from the day of Ganesha Chaturthi.

Anant Chaturdashi is the most significant day for Ganesha Visarjan. Apart from Ganesha Visarjan, Anant Chaturdashi is very significant day to worship Lord Vishnu in Anant form. Devotees of Lord Vishnu observe a day long fast and tie sacred thread during Puja. It is believed that sacred thread protects devotees from all sorts of trouble.

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 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" 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.