11. Ganesh Visarjan Procedure

Ganesh Visarjan Mantras and Procedure

On day of Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesha is welcomed, praised and ritualistically worshipped. People worship Ganesha according to family custom and traditions for a day and a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or 11 days depending on the family customs or individual commitments.

The idol of Ganesha is immersed on the day of Anath Chaturdashi or before. The immersion can be done the one and half day, fifth, seventh or eleventh day.

The immersion procedure is as follows-

There are no specific mantras for immersion. The only chant that is done is Ganapati Bappa Morya...

While immersing the divine idol one can chant the following prayer -

Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,
Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,
Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe.

Meaning of prayer
O Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, you are the son of Lord Shiva. You have an adorable pleasing form and ride on the small mouse. You have a sweet pudding in hand. Your ears are wide and winnow like. Your trunk is long and cursed. May you always bless us, as we prostrate before your lotus like feet.

Ganesh Visarjan Procedure
Udwasan or Visarjan Mantra
Chant the visarjan mantra and shift the idol towards in North East direction.

Yagnena yagnam aya jantha devaa. Thaani dharmani pradhamanyasan.
Theha naakam mahimaana sachanthe.yatra poorvo saadhyaa santhi devaa.

1. Uttarang Pooja- Before leaving the house with the idol for immersion, Ganesha is appraised and glorified with Uttarang puja. The Uttaranga puja involves offering five items namely, ghee/oil lamp, flowers, incense, fragrance and naivedya (food).

2. Aarti- After offering, a family members gather to sing Aarti.

3. Akshant Sprinkling - Following aarti, Ganesha is remembered by chanting Ganesha mantras and raw rice (akshant) are sprinkled over the idol of Ganesha.

4. Idol Displacement - The idol is lifted and carried to the threshold of house in a manner that the idol keeps facing the house. The idol is placed on the ground at threshold. Here prostrate before Ganesha and gratify him for visiting your home. Pray for perennial prosperity and auspiciousness, ask pardon for any mistakes, committed. If the family wishes to bring Ganesha next year as well, then ask Ganesha to return next year.

4. Curd Offering - Pour a spoonful of curd mixed with sugar in Ganesha's outstretched palm. This is done to ensure that Ganesha comes back. In Maharashtra believed that any guest who receives curd and rice would revisit.

5. Removal of Garlands and Decoration - Before performing visarjan, all garlands and other decorations on Ganesha should be removed. These should be collected separately in a bag and deposited in hole in compound or separate place assigned by authorities. 

6. Final Proceedings - Sprinkle some water on person performing Visarjan. The  idol is taken with provisions for the journey such as coconut, puffed rice, curd, Modaks; etc.

The person who is set to perform visarjan will now take the idol in arms outstretched, in such a way that the back of Ganesha idol faces the person. The idol is circumambulated (carried inside house to enable Ganesha see where he visited) and then the family leaves for immersion with chanting. As far as possible, all members of the family should go for immersion.

** It is critical that once the idol is lifted from the threshold, it is not placed again in the floor or elsewhere in the house. The lifted idol should be carried out of the house and one should remember not to see back with idol in hand. One shod quickly proceed towards the immersion point.

At the immersion point, Aarti can be performed. While immersing the idol, the slogan of Ganesha's glory-  ...Ganapati Bappa moriya...should be reiterated all the time.

After immersion, return back only to home and take bath. Following this, one should offer prayers.

The murti is submerged into a river or lake on Anant Chaturdashi. The day is also called Parivartini, or Jal Jhilani Ekadashi. Devotees observe nirjala - a waterless fast. On this day special prasad is distributed to devotees. This includes Ladoos, Modaks, chopped cucumbers; etc.

Before final immersion, the idol of Ganesha is placed in a boat and offered five pujas and five aartis. The boat boat sails until the last aarti when the idol is submerged into the ocean.