Ganesha: Always in the hearts of the people

by PURVI RADIA
Posted on 2008-09-08
Lord Ganesha is supreme reality. He is eternal and the endower of joy. He glorifies those who worship him. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi breaks all the barriers of caste and religion and makes people forget their differences and embrace each other with goodwill. Household celebrations are done to bring peace, prosperity and happiness amongst its members, as Lord Ganesha is the Lord of abundance.
Happiness commences the minute Lord Ganesha enters the home. They offer prayers, food, ‘aartis’ etc. Children wait anxiously as they get to a eat variety of food. To some he is a friend and bidding farewell to a friend after so much sharing and fun brings sadness to one and all.
“I just wait for this festival to come and it fills me with sadness when ‘visarjan’ time arrives. But at the same time I tell him to come soon next year,” said Gopi.
Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have to end with an immersion or visarjan of the clay Ganapati idol into water. It is for the family to decide when the farewell should take place. According to the beliefs and understanding of the people, the immersion of the idol takes place after one and a half day, five days, seven days, nine days, eleven days or 21 days. Sarwajanik Ganapati is mainly held on to till the twentieth day.
The last day of celebrations at home is till Anant Chaturdashi. Before immersing of the idol the family members perform pooja with all the rituals. Centuries ago, the idols were carried in palanquins but now he is taken in beautifully decorated trucks and floats. The smaller ones are placed on the backseats of cars. Large processions of devotees accompanied by live bands, drumbeats, singing and dancing, sprinkling of Gulal and fireworks proceed with him to the waterfront. The youngsters join in gusto with the traditional fugdi and other kinds of dances. The immersion takes place in sea, rivers, ponds and lakes.
Sandeep said, “Its real fun. We cheer the visarjan with firecrackers, music, bands and dances till we reach the water body for the purpose of immersion.”
In between they also chant “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya” (O Lord Ganesh, return quickly the following year). But please make sure that you do not immerse plaster of Paris Ganesha idols along with the clay ones as theses can cause harm to aquatic life. Be proud to save the environment by using eco-friendly Ganesha idols only.
In many areas, immersion of idols is preceded by Bhajans. Bhajan groups are invited to do programmes before immersion. Lord Ganesha returns to his abode taking away all the unhappiness, obstacles and troubles of his devotees, promising to return again the following year.