Ganesh Chaturthi festival lasts for 10 days.
Devotees should perform the final puja to honour Lord Ganesha before visarjan.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth anniversary of Lord Ganpati. It is celebrated with great pomp all over the country, especially in Maharashtra. During Ganesh Chaturthi, homes and public places are adorned with elaborate decorations. Communities organise large processions, carrying beautifully crafted Ganesh idols to immersion sites in water bodies. The festival lasts for 10 days, culminating in the visarjan or the immersion of the idol. It is necessary to follow all the rituals properly and worship Lord Ganesha before his departure, according to Kashi astrologer, Pandit Sanjay Upadhyay.
Know about the four things that should be done before the immersion of the Ganpati idol:
According to Pandit Sanjay Upadhyay, devotees should perform the final puja to honour Lord Ganesha. This includes offering flowers, sweets and other traditional items. It is a time to express gratitude and seek blessings for the coming year. Afterwards, aarti should be performed by offering food to Lord Ganesha.
The Ganesh idol should be adorned with new clothes and decorations. Devotees may also prepare special food offerings or prasad to be distributed among family and friends. Before leaving the house at the time of departure, a festive procession will be organised and the flowers offered to Ganpati Bappa, especially the Durva grass should be kept properly and safely in the house. This showers the blessings of Lord Ganesha throughout the year.
Before the immersion, his jewelleries and other accessories should be removed. Keeping his accessories will bring happiness, peace and prosperity in the house. According to Pandit Sanjay Upadhyay, keeping Ganpati Bappa’s jewellery in the home brings wealth.
Pandit ji also mentioned that if any weapon or arms of Ganpati Bappa is preserved in the house before immersion, it removes all the troubles and obstacles of the devotees throughout his life and he/ she will always be protected by lord Ganesha.
These activities mark the end of Ganesh Chaturthi festival and symbolise a spiritual and emotional farewell to the deity.